The bill establishes a new legal framework under section 782.073 of the Florida Statutes, creating a rebuttable presumption that the death of an alleged victim was caused by a controlled substance under specific conditions. This presumption applies when a defendant is charged with second-degree murder or manslaughter, and a forensic toxicology report shows the presence of a Schedule I controlled substance in the alleged victim at the time of death.

The effective date for this new provision is set for July 1, 2025. The bill aims to provide a legal basis for defendants to argue that the presence of controlled substances may have contributed to the victim's death, potentially influencing the outcomes of related criminal cases.