Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida recently signed into law all 20 bills that were presented to him, addressing an array of issues, from public safety and environmental protection to regulatory reforms.

A key measure is House Bill 197, which aims to combat human trafficking through illicit massage parlors. This law requires the Department of Health to suspend the licenses of any massage therapist or business involved in crimes related to kidnapping, human trafficking, or prostitution. The legislation also explicitly prohibits sexual activity within massage businesses and will be effective starting July 1.

Three other bills, part of the “My Safe Florida” hurricane mitigation program, were signed in Pinellas County. Another bill, signed in Naples, provides funding for red tide research.

In addition to public safety, House Bill 285 offers public record exemptions for specific personal data to prevent title fraud, while House Bill 341 (SAFE Act) adds an option to vehicle registration forms for applicants to voluntarily disclose disabilities to help safeguard families.

House Bill 405 aligns Florida’s commercial motor vehicle regulations with federal requirements, while House Bill 761 streamlines the process for obtaining protective orders against domestic violence by removing the notary requirement. Both will be effective on July 1.

House Bill 1077 increases revenue for clerks by redistributing service charges, and several bills focus on school safety. House Bill 1473 mandates that sheriff’s offices report school guardian data to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. House Bill 1509, a companion bill, protects the privacy of school guardians by exempting certain information from public records.

Senate Bill 1628 requires local governments to complete business impact statements before implementing new regulations, while Senate Bill 1764 increases penalties for illegal street racing, particularly in coordinated street takeovers.

The newly enacted laws reflect a broad approach to improving safety, environmental standards, and regulation in Florida, with varying effective dates, many set for July 1.