New Florida laws that take effect July 1: lab-grown meat ban, anti-human trafficking, more

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Numerous laws will take effect on Monday, July 1 as Florida’s new fiscal year begins, including a lab-grown meat ban, anti-human trafficking legislation and more.

Below is a list of some of the higher-profile laws taking effect.

• SB 1084 – Prohibits and creates penalties for the manufacturing, sale or distribution of cultivated meat in the state.
• HB 7063 – Penalizes the owner of an adult entertainment establishment from employing anyone under the age of 21.
  • The owner would receive a harsher penalty if they employ anyone under 21 to work while nude at the establishment.
• HB 1349 – Requires “age and developmentally appropriate” instruction on the history of communism, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.
• SB 544 – Creates the Swimming Lesson Voucher Program, which applies to families who earn less than 200% of the federal poverty level.
• HB 415 – Establishes an online pregnancy resource hub for expected and new parents, including access to education on pregnancy and parenting, where to obtain prenatal and postnatal services and more.
• SB 1764 – Defines the term “coordinated street takeover” to mean 10 or more vehicles operated in an organized manner to effect a street takeover.
  • The legislation increases the fines for illegal street racing activity, potentially costing individuals up to $1,000. It increases the penalty for a second violation within one year from a first degree misdemeanor to a third degree felony.
  • Subsequent violations will be subject to harsher penalties.
• HB 601 – Bans civilian oversight agencies created by counties and municipalities to review law enforcement officer and correctional officer ethics complaints.
  • The legislation does however allow for sheriffs and municipal police departments to create and appoint members to their own citizen review boards to have a check on their policies and procedures.
  • One appointed member of the board must be a retired law enforcement officer.
• HB 1285 – Limits the amount of times a non-parent can challenge a school library book in a given district.
  • The bill also requires that struggling public schools who choose to convert into charter schools must finalize their contract within one year of making the decision.
• HB 931 – Allows for schools to create a volunteer chaplain program to provide support services for students.
• HB 1171 – Defines punishments for organized defrauding schemes that individuals partake in.
  • The bill issues misdemeanors and felonies to individuals attempting to defraud people through various schemes both online and offline.
  • Additionally, it defines legal protections for people whose name, image or likeness were used without their consent in an organized defrauding scheme.
  • Finally, it provides for increased penalties on schemes intended to defraud more vulnerable Floridians, such as senior citizens, minors, and mentally and physically disabled people.
• HB 21 – Creates a victim compensation initiative for individuals who suffered mental, physical, and sexual abuse between 1940 and 1975 by staff at the Dozier School for Boys and Okeechobee School.
• HB 385 – Provides safe exchange locations for parents to transfer children in custody agreements.
  • Allows for sheriff stations and substations to designate a well lit, video monitored spot in their parking lot to host custody exchanges.

View a full list of bills that were signed by DeSantis here.