People who are homeless can’t sleep on city streets. A tracking device can no longer be surreptitiously placed on a car. Homeowners must disclose whether they’ve filed a flood insurance claim to a potential buyer.havefun888
These are just three of the 34 new laws taking effect Tuesday.
Here’s a rundown of the six bills we think you should know about.
Politics & Policy in the Sunshine State Start your week informed about Florida's issues, ideas, conflicts and curiosities. Sign up and get this free newsletter every Monday morning in your inbox. HOMELESS CAMPSThe new homeless encampment law, HB 1365, would allow county residents, business owners and the state attorney general to sue a county or city for allowing homeless people to sleep on public property that hasn’t been designated an encampment. Local governments could create these temporary and homeless camps one year at a time if they don’t have enough room in existing shelters. Encampments are required to be clean and safe. Fiscally constrained counties are exempt.
TRACKING DEVICESA person or business will be prohibited from tracking another person or their property, such as a car. The new law, SB 758, carries a third-degree felony for anyone who violates it but exempts parents or legal guardians of a minor, caregivers for the disabled or elderly and the car manufacturer. The manufacturer must tell the next owner how to remove the device upon selling it.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: What you need to know about the six constitutional amendments on Florida’s 2024 ballot
FLOOD DISCLOSUREAnyone selling a residence will have to notify the buyer about flood claims they’ve filed with an insurance company, due to HB 1049. They’ll have to disclose that flood insurance is separate property insurance coverage from their homeowners’ policy they may need to purchase. They’ll also have to notify a buyer of whether they’ve ever received federal flood assistance after a storm.
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DIGITAL VOYEURISMA person 19 years of age or older who takes a photograph or video recording intending to capture an undergarment or private body part of someone without their knowledge and consent will commit a third-degree felony, punishable up to five years in prison, when HB 1389 becomes law. If the voyeur is younger than 19, they’ll be committing a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable up to one year in prison.
HOPE CARDSA person who has been granted a restraining order by the court can request a Hope Card when SB 86 goes into effect. The card serves as evidence of the restraining order and contains identifying information about the protected person, who they have an order against, the case and when the order was issued. It also includes a number for the statewide domestic hotline and may be digital or a “durable, wallet-sized card.”
SPECIALITY LICENSE PLATESFloridians can buy their own “Margaritaville” speciality license plate named after the late Jimmy Buffett, who had a house in Palm Beach, thanks to HB 403. The proceeds will go to the private Singing for Change Charitable Foundation founded by the singer in 1995 that will provide grants to communities impacted by natural or manmade disasters. Other new specialty license plates include the Clearwater Marine Aquarium plate, the General Aviation plate, The Villages plate, the Cure Diabetes plate and the Boating Capital of The World plate.
Click here for a full list of all the new laws kicking in Tuesday.
This article has been updated to clarify the penalties for digital voyeurism.
This story was originally published September 30, 2024, 1:14 PM.
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