House Bill 245 seeks to amend various sections of the Florida Statutes by replacing the term "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material" across multiple legal contexts, including criminal history checks and definitions of offenses. This change is intended to reflect the severity of the crimes associated with such material and enhance the legal framework surrounding child exploitation. The bill also establishes stricter penalties for the possession, promotion, and creation of child sexual abuse material, mandates specific protocols for law enforcement in recovering such material, and requires reporting to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Additionally, the bill allows victims of child sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits against those involved in the production or possession of child sexual abuse material, regardless of their current age, with a minimum damage award of $150,000. It clarifies that ignorance of the victim or the abuse depicted is not a valid defense in these cases. The legislation also introduces new penalties for transmitting child sexual abuse material, provides immunity for individuals reporting suspected abuse, and expands the definition of "qualifying offense" for probation violations. These changes aim to strengthen legal protections for victims and impose harsher consequences for offenders, with the new provisions set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
H 245 Filed: 39.0138, 92.561, 435.07, 456.074, 836.13, 836.14, 847.001, 847.002, 847.0139, 903.011, 948.06, 960.197