More than 87 new criminal laws signed by Governor Ron DeSantis went into effect in Florida on Wednesday, July 1, bringing significant changes to the state's justice system, ranging from harsher penalties for domestic violence to the criminalization of offenses related to artificial intelligence.
According to a report from Telemundo 51, the reforms cover four major areas: recidivism in domestic violence, mandatory detention for those convicted of violent crimes, restrictions on sexual predators, and new offenses related to the use of artificial intelligence against minors.
Missy's Law: No bail for those convicted of violent crimes
One of the most significant regulations is the so-called Missy Law (HB 445), signed by DeSantis on April 2nd in Tampa.
The law is named after Melissa "Missy" Mogle, a five-year-old girl from Tallahassee who was allegedly murdered in May 2025 by her stepfather, Daniel Spencer, who was awaiting sentencing for a prior sexual offense and was free on bail at the time.
DeSantis described that case as "completely preventable, a failure of the justice system."
The regulation requires that individuals convicted of dangerous crimes—homicide, child abuse, sexual assault, and material related to child sexual abuse—be held without the option of bail while awaiting their final sentence.
Attorney Erick Cruz explained that the law "removes the discretion a judge has to allow a person to remain out on bail while awaiting sentencing or an appeal."
Domestic violence: harsher penalties and electronic monitoring
The HB 277 law establishes harsher penalties for repeat offenders. Cruz warned that "the penalties for individuals with criminal records related to domestic violence will be much more severe."
The regulation also establishes a pilot electronic monitoring program with GPS for repeat offenders in Pinellas County, featuring automatic alerts to authorities if the offender violates restricted zones.
Also, economic assistance for victims is increased: up to $2,500 per incident -up from the previous $1,500- and a lifetime maximum of $5,000, which was previously set at $3,000. The aggravating factors for restraining orders are expanded to now include threats to family pets.
In parallel, SB 296 establishes a discreet alert system to 911 for victims without the need to make a traditional phone call.
Sex Offenders: New Residency Restrictions
The SB 212 law prohibits convicted sex offenders for crimes against minors under 16 years old from living within 1,000 feet (305 meters) of public swimming pools—including those in apartment complexes and government facilities—parks, playgrounds, and daycare centers.
The police can arrest them without a warrant if they violate these restrictions.
The norm applies to those convicted both before and after July 1, 2026.
Artificial intelligence and child exploitation
The law HB 1159 classifies the use of artificial intelligence to generate child sexual abuse material as a second-degree felony.
Distributing synthetic images depicting individuals under 12 years old constitutes a first-degree crime with a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, and the aggravated exploitation of minors of that age can be punished with life imprisonment.
Additionally, the HB 245 law officially replaces the term "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material" (CSAM) throughout Florida's state legislation, following a national trend that acknowledges these images document real crimes.
These reforms are in addition to other Florida laws that also went into effect on Wednesday in various areas, solidifying one of the most comprehensive legislative packages in the state in recent years.
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