The proposed bill introduces significant changes to Florida's criminal justice laws, including a new prohibition on the use of motor vehicle kill switches, with exceptions for law enforcement and consent-based mechanisms, making violations a misdemeanor. It also establishes a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years for attempted murder of specified justice personnel and extends firearms rights to correctional probation officers. The bill increases penalties for false crime reports, reclassifying them from misdemeanors to felonies based on the report's consequences. Additionally, it includes provisions for the retention of reimbursement funds by the Florida Highway Patrol and mandates immediate testing for communicable diseases for arrestees exposed to first responders.

Further amendments focus on enhancing penalties for certain crimes, such as elevating the classification of willfully making a false report causing great bodily harm from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony, and modifying similar offenses resulting in death from a second-degree to a first-degree felony. The bill clarifies the definition of "interfering with an officer's means of protection or communication" and outlines unlawful actions against law enforcement and correctional officers, maintaining a third-degree felony classification for such offenses. It also enhances background screening for peer specialists, expands the definition of "serious felony offense," and streamlines victim and witness protection services, including the automatic sealing of criminal records. The bill establishes the Critical Infrastructure Mapping Grant Program to improve preparedness against terrorism, with provisions taking effect on July 1, 2025, and certain sections on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1444 Filed: 775.0823, 782.065, 790.051, 790.052, 817.49, 951.27
S 1444 c1: 775.0823, 790.051, 790.052, 817.49, 951.27, 843.025, 397.417, 420.6241, 435.04, 914.25, 943.0595