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FloridaHB 11592026House

Sexual Offenses

Sponsored By: Berny Jacques (Republican)

Signed by Governor

AppropriationCriminal Justice SubcommitteeJustice Budget SubcommitteeJudiciary CommitteeHouse CalendarRules

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 6 costs, 2 mixed.

Felony penalties for animal sexual abuse

Beginning July 1, 2026, knowingly engaging in sexual contact with an animal is a second-degree felony. The defined contact includes sexual touching or penetration for sexual gratification, abuse, or financial gain; knowingly causing or helping another person's contact is also a second-degree felony. Knowingly allowing the conduct on premises someone controls is a third-degree felony. Third-degree felonies also cover knowingly organizing, promoting, conducting, supporting, or observing the conduct, offering animals for it, or providing related services. Knowingly filming, distributing, or possessing pornographic images or videos of the prohibited acts is also a third-degree felony.

Felony penalties for computer-generated abuse images

Beginning July 1, 2026, intentionally creating generated child sexual abuse material becomes a second-degree felony, up from third-degree. Generated material includes computer-created images of a fictitious person who reasonably appears younger than 18. Transmitting this material is also a second-degree felony when the sender knew or reasonably should have known its nature. The transmission rule covers sending within Florida, from Florida to another place, or from another place to Florida.

Higher penalties for possessing child abuse images

Beginning July 1, 2026, knowingly possessing child sexual abuse material becomes a second-degree felony under the covered rule, up from third-degree. Each item remains a separate offense; an item showing multiple children also counts separately for each child. The enhanced offense level applies when someone possesses at least 10 images and at least one depicts a child under 12. The prior age threshold was under 5; the 10-image requirement remains.

Longer prison minimums for repeat sex offenders

Beginning July 1, 2026, qualifying repeat offenders face longer mandatory prison terms for three covered offenses. The minimum for the covered sexual battery offense rises from 10 to 15 years. Minimums for the covered child sexual performance and child solicitation offenses each rise from 20 to 30 years. These rules require a prior conviction, or withheld adjudication, for an offense listed in Florida's sex-offender registration law.

Child performance penalties with narrow sentencing relief

Beginning July 1, 2026, knowingly using a child in a sexual performance becomes a first-degree felony, up from second-degree. Convicted offenders who were at least 18 at the time face a 15-year mandatory minimum. Knowingly employing, authorizing, or inducing a child under 12 to participate is a life felony, with a 25-year minimum for adult offenders. Adults convicted of knowingly producing, directing, or promoting a performance involving a child's sexual conduct face a 5-year minimum. For covered child-performance offenses, a court can skip a minimum only with written findings: the child was at least 14 when the performance was created, gave permission, was no more than 4 years younger than the offender, and the offender did not promote it to a third party.

Tougher penalties for sharing child abuse images

Beginning July 1, 2026, transmitting child sexual abuse material rises from a third-degree to a second-degree felony. This applies when the sender knew or reasonably should have known what the material was. Sharing cloud links or access codes that let others obtain the material also counts as transmitting it. Convicted offenders who were at least 18 when the offense occurred face a 5-year mandatory minimum prison term. A court can waive that minimum only with written findings: the child was at least 14 when the image was created, gave permission, was no more than 4 years younger than the offender, and the offender did not transmit it to a third party.

Protection for good-faith abuse image reporting

Beginning July 1, 2026, good-faith sharing of links, access codes, or similar information is protected from prosecution under the transmission section. The recipient must be law enforcement, a prosecuting authority, or an authorized forensic examiner. The purpose must be reporting suspected material, helping an investigation, preserving evidence, or seeking lawful content removal.

Animal abuse convictions restrict homes and jobs

Beginning July 1, 2026, courts must restrict animal access after a conviction under the animal sexual abuse law. The order bars harboring, owning, possessing, or controlling animals and living in a household where animals are present. It also bars working or volunteering at an establishment where animals are present. The order lasts at least 5 years after conviction, even when the court withholds adjudication.

Felony penalties for child-like sex dolls

Beginning July 1, 2026, knowingly possessing an obscene, child-like sex doll is a third-degree felony instead of a separate misdemeanor. A second or later conviction for covered acts involving these dolls is a second-degree felony.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Berny Jacques

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Criminal Justice Subcommittee

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Judiciary Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 142 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/9/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 37 • No: 0

House vote • 3/3/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 105 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter No. 2026-20; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 245 (Ch. 2026-18)

    4/1/2026

  2. Approved by Governor

    3/31/2026

  3. Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

    3/30/2026

  4. Ordered enrolled

    3/9/2026House

  5. In Messages

    3/9/2026House

  6. CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 695

    3/9/2026Senate

  7. Read 3rd time -SJ 695

    3/9/2026Senate

  8. Read 2nd time -SJ 695

    3/9/2026Senate

  9. Substituted for CS/SB 1750 -SJ 695

    3/9/2026Senate

  10. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

    3/9/2026Senate

  11. Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 695

    3/9/2026Senate

  12. Received

    3/3/2026Senate

  13. Referred to Rules

    3/3/2026Senate

  14. In Messages

    3/3/2026Senate

  15. CS passed; YEAS 105, NAYS 0

    3/3/2026House

  16. Read 3rd time

    3/3/2026House

  17. Added to Third Reading Calendar

    3/3/2026House

  18. Read 2nd time

    3/3/2026House

  19. 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)

    2/26/2026House

  20. Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026)

    2/26/2026House

  21. Bill referred to House Calendar

    2/26/2026House

  22. CS Filed

    2/26/2026House

  23. Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)

    2/26/2026House

  24. Reported out of Judiciary Committee

    2/26/2026House

  25. Favorable with CS by Judiciary Committee

    2/26/2026House

Bill Text

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