FAC Weekly Update 2025-09-30 -New Laws Effective Oct 1
Weekly update for September 30, 2025. This is recording number 330.
Dear Members and Advocates,
Starting October 1, 2025, several new laws will go into effect in Florida. Some directly impact people on the registry, on probation, or with past convictions. At FAC, we always try to keep you informed of what’s changing, so we’ve compiled the summary below to give you a plain English overview of what you need to know. Remember, however, that FAC is not a law firm and the summary below is not intended to be legal advice or a binding interpretation of the new statutes. For that, we have included a link to each bill and recommend you take a few moments to read the actual language in the statute.
Many of you have already received a letter in the mail from FDLE with their summary of the changes. If not, expect to receive one shortly. We strongly suggest that if you have a specific question about any of the new laws (or even the existing laws), you contact the FDLE with your questions and share their response with us at [email protected] so that we can post the answer to our site and share (the non-personal information) with other members. The FDLE can be reached at 1-888-357-7332 (M-F 8:00am – 5:00pm, Eastern) or via email: [email protected]
HB 437 – GPS Monitoring – If you’re on probation and wearing a GPS monitor, cutting it off or even asking someone else to mess with it now has different levels of punishment depending on your case. If your original crime was a misdemeanor or 3rd degree felony, it’s a 3rd degree felony. If your original crime was a 2nd degree felony, it’s a 2nd degree felony. If your original crime was a 1st degree felony, life felony, or capital felony, it’s a 1st degree felony! Read the bill here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/437
HB 757 – Sexual Images & Deepfakes – Florida is criminalizing “deepfake porn” (illegal AI generated images that don’t involve an actual human being) and made punishments tougher for sexual images involving minors under 16. Possession of an image with intent to share is now a 2nd degree felony. Viewing or possessing one is a 3rd degree felony. Making or sharing a deepfake sexual image of someone (not even a minor) without their consent is a 3rd degree felony. Not only are there tough criminal penalties, but victims can sue you civilly for at least $10,000 in damages plus attorney’s fees. Read the bill here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/757
HB 777 – Offenses Involving Children – Part of this bill is confusing, because mistake of age has never been a defense, but the new law clarifies that not knowing someone’s age, being lied to, or thinking they were 18 or older is no longer a defense in court. Also, “luring or enticing” now covers kids under 14 (instead of the previous 12), and it’s a higher-level felony than before. This also includes asking a child to come out of a house or car, not just go inside. Read the bill here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/777
HB 1351 – Registration Rules – Employment reporting is getting stricter. You now have to report your job, business name, work address, and phone number. If you are self-employed, you can’t just write “Self Employed” you now have to give your company name or if you are a sole proprietor working under your own name, something like “John Smith, Handyman”. Any place you stay in Florida within 48 hours (either online with FDLE or in person at the sheriff’s office). Also, the sheriff has to check your address once a year (if you’re an offender) or four times a year (if you’re labeled a predator). Most of us already get checks more frequently, but these are the minimum number of checks required under the statute. The law also clarifies what counts as a “permanent residence.” Read the bill here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1351
HB 1451 – Sexual Cyberharassment – “Revenge porn” laws are now tougher. If you do it to extort money it’s a 3rd degree felony. If you are a repeat offender, it’s a 2nd degree felony. And victims can sue you for money damages. The definition of sexual images was expanded, intent doesn’t matter anymore (accidentally share the wrong picture of your ex and it’s felony time), and the time limit to prosecute these cases is longer. Read the bill here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1451
HB 1455 – Repeat Sexual Offenses – This is one that obviously none of us have to worry about, since nobody at FAC will be committing a subsequent sexual offense, but just so you know… If you’ve been convicted of a sexual offense before and reoffend, judges now must give minimum sentences. No more discretion. Here are the mandatory minimums; 10 years for lewd molestation under 16, molesting elderly/disabled, CP possession, or online solicitation. 15 years for CP possession with intent to promote. 20 years for using or promoting a child in a sexual performance (production of CP). Read the bill here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1455
SB 1804 – Human Trafficking of Vulnerable People – This law creates a new “capital” crime (life in prison or the death penalty) for adults who organize or manage trafficking of kids under 12 or mentally disabled people for sex. Recorded confessions can also be used in these cases. Read the bill here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1804
The reality, is these new laws don’t change much for those of us who are years post-offense and following the laws. Chances are you already reported all this employment information (if not, go ahead and do so – you can do so online thanks to Harper v. Glass) and get more frequent address checks than the new laws require. For those who are looking to commit new sex crimes or cut off their ankle monitor, the new laws take away defenses, and raise penalties, but you obviously should not be committing new sex crimes or cutting off your ankle monitor! For everyone else, just keep doing what you are doing, be careful not to miss deadlines or put yourself in risky situations!
Sincerely,
The Florida Action Committee
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It’s already started even before this new law took effect.
https://www.wesh.com/article/man-uses-ai-to-create-child-pornography/68135279
The thing to remember is that being courteous is the key to their harassing spot checks. There are people that are rude, and loud with the Deputies cussing them out for doing their job. (no I do not agree with their job and believe the registry is unconstitutional) That being said, I am always polite to them. I greet them and when they are done tell them to stay safe. The treat me with respect and do not bother me in the middle of the night or early morning hours. They do not treat me like trash and are polite in their jobs.
I hear often of SO’s that yell scream and cuss at them during the spot checks. When you do this you make it harder on yourself and the rest of us. You don’t have to like the cop, you don’t have to like the registry, but respect will go a long way to making your life easier.
This is a tough one. Certainly, your sentiment seems correct. But personally, I don’t think people who believe in a free America should help the Registries run smoothly and civilly. I think “make good trouble” is appropriate for all things Registry.
Personally, I am not rude to LE or anyone else, unless they give me a reason to be. So I’m not going to curse at them, make fun of them, or whatever. They may think the Registries are dumber than I do. However, I’m not ever going to be around a LE employee, or any other big government employee, and NOT denigrate the Registries. The employees are going to hear something. Every time.
All that aside, why do PFRs allow “compliance checks”? Are some PFRs happy that the Registries exist and think they should? Why help run the harassment scheme? Why be complicit? I don’t get it.
What if all 1,000,000ish PFRs in all of America never allowed “compliance checks”? Every time that any LE went to a PFR family’s home they would see nothing but a locked fence? Or a gate? No one would ever speak to them. Do you think that would send a different message to the criminal regimes and their LE criminals? Why are free Americans putting up with them?
For me personally, if the Registries exist then I’m going to make sure they are as big a problem as they can possibly be. I’m going to ensure they are worthless. I’m going to ensure they are worse than worthless. I’m going to ensure they are counterproductive. I’m going to ensure the costs and harm are as large as I can make it.
Registries, just by their natural essence, gravely harm America. But it must be worse. It simply has to be. I’ll never worry about “uniting” Americans as long as Registries exist. It’s war. The current chaos in America is completely onbrand for Registries. Everyone should recognize why America is this way.
We already had to give our employment info. What’s the difference?
I want to state this. I always went to my local county sherif office to let them know I was staying somewhere temporarily for 3 days or more in FL. So now I don’t have to? I can just report it on the FDL website on my account?
If you classified as a RSO you can use the portal. My question which i can never seem to get answered is does this new law, “Within 48 hours” verbiage now mean any stay or is it still the same as it was before: 3 or more business days. If it is like it was before, what am I missing?
FAC, thank you for posting all of this.
1. I added my Employment type via the online portal. Didn’t we already have to give them our work info? What changed? Or was I doing something I didn’t have to? I then called today to make sure it “Stuck there” and it did. Guy was nice no issues.
2. On the home visits. My Detective was already driving by with a wave twice a year. So is this in addition to or is it now dropping to just 1 home visit.
3. The in-state travel with in 48 hours. Is this now any travel or is it still only if we establish a temp residence and if so, is it still 3 or more days.
These are important distinctions. Any help would be appreciated. The rest of it really doesn’t apply if we are flying straight.
So im lost: i uave to report a one night stay in florida but its still a 3 day stay outside?
No it does not say to report a one-night stay.
Thank you for this. So how does the “48 Hour” clause come into play that was question. So, I am I correct: If I stay two nights somewhere I do not have to report anything and the 48 hours clause is moot?
If your travel involves establishing another residence (as defined by statute) within the state of Florida, then you have 48 hours (from the time the residence is established) to register that residence. But a two-night stay might not be long enough to establish residence in the first place.
Your awesome. that was my question from my reading of the statute a Temp residence is 3 or more days. with the arrival date not counted. IE: Arrive on Friday leave on Sunday That would be 2 days; Saturday and Sunday. No requirement. IE Arrive on Friday Leave on Monday that would 3. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday as it is any part of a day.
If I am wrong on this please let me know. 🙂
This is the problem. The law and the constitution states laws are supposed to be written easily understood that is not a direct quote. That is what it means in reading all these clearly it is not easily to understand. Sounds unconstitutional to me.
I called FDLE and asked that question. You are right on. Arrival day does not count has day 1.
I think Hillsborough County has gotten this stuff confused. They seem to come by about once every 45 days or so. It’s really out of hand with these guys
And therein lies the issue with Equal protection clause being thrown out. It since Florida has two tiers the same rules should apply to all SO’s regardless of county/city and same should apply to the second group. ( SO’s term used lightly but couldnt think of the other term as we are not SO’s).
Mine was coming by twice a year usually about midway between reporting months. But never made a big deal out of it. Call a wave and on to the next.
Many people call a person who is listed on a Sex Registry a “Person Forced to Register (PFR)”. For plural PFR, I use “PFRs”.
Remember they stated minimum days for checks. Hernando treats everyone like a predator. Sometimes more if feels always midnight or later too