As the 2024 Florida Legislative Session comes to an end, Attorney General Ashley Moody is praising lawmakers for passing several measures to enhance public safety. Attorney General Moody worked with lawmakers on several public safety bills that are now headed to the Governor’s desk. The bills seek to protect children on social media, permanently outlaw gas station heroin, stop organized retail theft, solve cold cases, protect first responders and much more.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “We fought hard to strengthen public safety laws, protect children and solve cold cases this legislative session. I want to thank Speaker Renner, President Passidomo, all of the bill sponsors and every member who voted in favor of these measures to strengthen public safety and help us build a Stronger, Safer Florida.”
HB 3: Attorney General Moody supported legislation to protect children on social media. HB 3 prevents children under the age of 13 from utilizing addictive social media platforms and allows 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds to use such platforms with parental consent. Rep. Chase Tramont, Rep. Toby Overdorf, Rep. Tyler Sirois, Rep. Fiona McFarland and Rep. Michele Rayner sponsored the legislation.
HB 549: Attorney General Moody pushed for a measure to strengthen the state’s organized retail theft law. The bill enhances penalties for theft by offenders with previous convictions, as well as increases the aggregate period for third-degree felony retail theft. Rep. Tom Rommel sponsored the legislation.
SB 1512: Attorney General Moody championed legislation to permanently ban tianeptine, or gas station heroin, in the state. Last year, Attorney General Moody issued a temporary emergency ban against the drug. SB 1512 makes that temporary ban permanent—it is a felony to possess or sell tianeptine. Sen. Jason Brodeur and Rep. Rachel Plakon sponsored the legislation.
HB 1007: Attorney General Moody worked with lawmakers to remove illegal vape products that are addictive and attractive to minors from being sold in Florida. Sen. Keith Perry and Rep. Toby Overdorf sponsored the legislation.
HB 1181: Attorney General Moody fought for a measure to respond to increasing gun violence among juveniles. Rep. Berny Jacques and Sen. Jonathan Martin sponsored the legislation.
HB 533: Attorney General Moody supported a measure to require DNA samples from all Florida inmates who have not currently provided samples, as required by law. There are more than 20,000 unsolved murder cases in Florida, and this bill will go a long way in assisting our Cold Case Investigations Unit and help law enforcement solve some of those cases. Sen. Blaise Ingoglia and Rep. Tom Fabricio sponsored the legislation.
SB 718: Attorney General Moody pushed for the passage of SB 718. This legislation creates criminal penalties for those who recklessly expose a first responder to fentanyl and causes the first responder to overdose. Sen. Jay Collins and Rep. Jessica Baker sponsored the legislation.
The legislature also mandated that Florida’s Statewide Human Trafficking reporting number, 1(855) FLA-SAFE, be included on signage across the state.
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