DeSantis signs bill lowering death penalty threshold, joined by Parkland parents

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that would reduce the number of jurors required to recommend the death penalty.

The governor was joined by parents of the victims in the Parkland mass shooting for the bill signing.

The law reduces the number of jurors needed to administer the death penalty from unanimous to now eight out of twelve.

“Once a defendant in a capital case is found guilty by a unanimous jury, one juror should not be able to veto a capital sentence,” DeSantis said. “I’m proud to sign legislation that will prevent families from having to endure what the Parkland families have and ensure proper justice will be served in the state of Florida.”

The proposal was in response to situations including Parkland killer, who received the life sentence instead of the death penalty.

Ryan Petty, father of Alaina who died in the shooting, said he hopes it saves other families from injustices.

“A few months ago, we endured another tragic failure of the justice system. Today’s change in Florida law will hopefully save other families from the injustices we have suffered,” Petty said. “I’d like to thank Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for this important legislation.”

Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Seminole, and Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, carried the bills through the process.

Ingoglia said one “rogue juror” should not be the “sole arbiter of justice.”

“The victims of the most evil crimes and their families deserve to see criminals punished to the full extent of the law,” he said. “One rogue juror should not be the sole arbiter of justice.”

“Florida will no longer allow a small handful of activist jurors to derail the full administration of justice when individuals are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and meet the qualifications for the death penalty,” Jacques said.

This bill is about victims’ rights, plain and simple. It allows the victims of heinous crimes a chance to get justice and have the perpetrators punished to the full extent of the law. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard on this bill.

Tony Montalto, father of Gina

Thank you, Governor DeSantis, Senator Ingoglia, and Representative Jacques for their passionate hard work on victims’ rights. This bill will bring full accountability to the perpetrators of wicked crimes and help victims receive justice.

Tom and Gena Hoyer, mother and father of Luke

“Thank you, Governor DeSantis, Senator Ingoglia, and Representative Jacques for enacting this legislation that changes the death penalty law,” said Hunter Pollack, brother of Meadow, who also died in the shooting. 

“While we cannot go back and change the past, we can ensure that no community will ever have to endure the injustice and pain that we did when the Parkland shooter did not receive the death penalty,” Pollack said.

Democrats expressed concern during the debate that the death penalty would be more easily imposed.

“Florida gets it wrong a lot, we lead the nation in death penalty exonerees,” Rep. Michele Rayner-Goolsby, D-St. Petersburg, said. “Yet we want to have a lower threshold.”

The act takes effect upon becoming law.