The bill introduces a new section, 782.073, to the Florida Statutes, establishing a rebuttable presumption in favor of the defense in cases where a defendant is charged with second-degree murder or manslaughter. This presumption applies when a forensic toxicology report shows that a Schedule I controlled substance was present in the alleged victim at the time of death. The intent of this legislation is to provide a legal framework that allows defendants to argue that the death of the alleged victim may have resulted from the presence of controlled substances rather than the defendant's actions.

The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, should it be enacted. This new legal provision aims to clarify the circumstances under which the presence of controlled substances can be considered in legal proceedings related to homicide and manslaughter charges, potentially impacting the outcomes of such cases.