Multiple Florida laws take effect this new year: list
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Several pieces of legislation are set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, including bills related to the expansion of Florida’s Move Over Law, ethics requirements for public officials and early campsite reservations for Florida residents.
HB 425 expands the Move Over Law by requiring that vehicles move over one lane, when it’s safe to do so, to avoid stopped vehicles displaying hazard lights and emergency signals. Violators may incur fines of $60 to $158.
SB 774 expands ethics requirements for local officials by requiring elected commission and council members within municipalities fill out Form 6, a document that asks individuals to publicly share their net worth and assets of over $1,000. All other candidates and officeholders of county and state-level positions are already required to complete the form.
Several local officeholders across the state have expressed concerns with the legislation and believe it is an invasion of their personal privacy.
A law related to state park campsite reservations, SB 76, will also go into effect, allowing for Florida residents to make reservations for campsites up to 11 months in advance, while nonresidents can make reservations 10 months in advance.
Additionally, SB 144 requires each county courthouse to designate at least one lactation space for female members of the public to breastfeed.
Other laws include SB 784, which allows for adults with various developmental and psychological disabilities to enroll themselves in a law enforcement database that is intended on helping officers better interact with the individuals.
HB 7056 establishes the Florida Department of Children and Families as the sole entity performing child protective investigations. The legislation ends the contract that seven counties, Pinellas, Manatee, Broward, Pasco, Hillsborough, Seminole, and Walton, have with the department in order to conduct their own investigations.
SB 1534 outlines various bail, pretrial detention and pretrial release specifications. Firstly, the law states that only a judge may set, reduce or alter a defendant’s bail. Additionally, the Florida Supreme Court must adopt a uniform statewide bond schedule by the new year.
