Florida enacts tougher domestic violence laws with stronger penalties

Several new Florida laws aimed at strengthening protections for domestic violence and dating violence survivors took effect Wednesday, July 1, introducing tougher penalties for repeat offenders, expanding victim services and creating new monitoring and safety initiatives.

The changes come as law enforcement agencies across the state continue responding to domestic violence incidents, including a recent fatal shooting in Jacksonville that police said stemmed from a domestic dispute.

One of the most significant changes is House Bill 277, which increases penalties for repeat domestic violence offenders by allowing courts to reclassify offenses to more serious charges if a defendant has a prior domestic violence conviction.

Under the law:

• A second-degree misdemeanor may be elevated to a first-degree misdemeanor.
• A first-degree misdemeanor may be elevated to a third-degree felony.
• A third-degree felony may be elevated to a second-degree felony.
• A second-degree felony may be elevated to a first-degree felony.
• A first-degree felony may be elevated to a life felony.

The legislation also increases penalties for repeat violations of protective injunctions.

HB 277 establishes two electronic monitoring pilot programs for offenders convicted of certain domestic violence crimes or violations of protective injunctions when a no-contact order is a condition of probation.

The misdemeanor-level pilot program will operate in Pinellas County, while the felony-level program will run in Florida's Sixth Judicial Circuit. Both programs are scheduled to run from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.

Within those pilot areas, judges may order electronic monitoring as a condition of probation. Monitoring is required in certain cases if a judge determines there is clear and convincing evidence that a defendant poses a threat of violence or physical harm to the victim. The programs will be evaluated, with reports submitted to the Florida Legislature.

The law also expands financial assistance available through Florida's victim compensation program by increasing the maximum relocation reimbursement from $1,500 to $2,500 per claim and raising the lifetime cap from $3,000 to $5,000.

Additional provisions allow judges to consider threats against a family pet when deciding whether to issue a domestic violence injunction. The legislation also recognizes military protective orders under Florida law and requires law enforcement agencies to notify military authorities when there is probable cause to believe such an order has been violated.

Another measure, Senate Bill 296, expands Florida's Address Confidentiality Program to include victims of dating violence. Previously, the program primarily served victims of domestic violence.

The program helps protect victims by preventing their home, work and school addresses from being disclosed through public records requests. The law also formally defines "dating violence" for purposes of the program as violence or threats committed by someone in a continuing and significant romantic or intimate relationship with the victim.

SB 296 also directs the state to study the feasibility of creating a web-based 911 alert system for victims of domestic and dating violence. Among the features to be evaluated are a unique telephone number for participants, the ability for callers to use a code word or phrase to discreetly request emergency assistance, and real-time information sharing between 911 centers and law enforcement agencies.

The Division of Telecommunications within the Department of Management Services is required to submit its findings to the Legislature by Jan. 31, 2027.

In addition, the legislation requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to enter dating violence and sexual violence injunctions into the statewide verification database, making it easier for officers to confirm active court orders during investigations.