Legislative

Florida Representative Rachel Plakon of Seminole County, just handed our state another example of policy making that looks tough but does nothing to keep kids safe. Rep. Plakon was the sponsor of House Bill 45 that expanded residency restrictions to include public swimming pools for people on the sex offender registry and restricting their school access. She sponsored the bill

lorida is overhauling how it handles sex offenders and pretrial detention following the signing of two major pieces of legislation by Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday. House Bill 445, officially titled “Missy’s Law,” and House Bill 1159. Under the new rules, anyone found guilty of or entering a plea for a “dangerous crime” must be immediately remanded into custody and

Two recent reports out of Texas and California should force a long-overdue conversation about what “tough on crime” policies actually produce over time—not just in theory, but in real human and financial costs. In Texas, officials are grappling with soaring medical costs tied to aging individuals held under sex offender civil commitment and extended incarceration. Meanwhile, in California, policymakers are

Effective July 1, 2026, and pending the Governor signing CS/HB45/SB212 into law, the following changes will be made in Florida’s law. The current state mandated 1,000 ft residency restrictions from schools, playgrounds, childcare centers, and parks continue to apply. Effective July 1, 2026: Swimming Pool residency ban: Registrants with specified offenses involving those less than 16 years old which offense

Yesterday, the Florida Legislature passed “Missy’s Law” (CS/CS/HB 445 CS/CS/SB 928). The Bill requires the court to remand person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is found guilty of, dangerous crime to custody immediately; requires such person to remain in custody pending sentencing without possibility of release on bond. The bill expands the definition of “dangerous crime” to

A new federal proposal introduced by Republican Representative Nancy Mace would authorize the death penalty for child sexual offenses, including rape of a minor and abusive sexual contact against children, and extend that punishment into the military justice system. Currently, imposing capital punishment for non-homicide crimes violates the Eighth Amendment under established Supreme Court precedent (Kennedy v. Louisiana (2008)), meaning