Roughly 200 new laws are coming to Florida in 2025 – but only nine will be taking effect on Jan. 1.Here are the nine new laws: HB 3: Social Media Restrictions for Minors This act would require social media platforms to prohibit certain minors from creating new accounts. It would also require them to terminate certain accounts and provide additional options for terminating accounts.Additionally, it provides conditions which certain social media platforms need to follow to prohibit certain minors from entering contracts to allowing them to be become account holders.The act defines social media as an online forum, website or application that; allows users to upload or view content of other users, uses algorithms that analyze user data to curate content for users, has infinite scrolling, push notifications containing information about the user’s account, displays personal interactive metrics such as “likes” and “reshares.”This does not include services where the sole function is direct messaging or e-mail shared between a sender and the recipients without posting publicly to users outside the recipients from the senders. HB 135: Voter Registration ApplicationsAn act that provides an exception to a requirement that certain voter registration applicants must be registered without a party affiliation. It would also require the department to make sure that technological information processes and updates do not change certain information without written consent. Any applicant who fails to designate a party affiliation will be registered without any affiliation. The supervisor of the department must notify the voter by mail that they have been registered without any party affiliation and provide the steps necessary to update that information. The affiliation of any person who is updating their voter registration information can not be changed without written consent.SB 184: Impeding, Threatening or Harassing First RespondersThis act prohibits a person from violating a warning received from a first responder not to approach or remain within a specified distance of the first responder. This would provide criminal penalties following the effective date. The act defines harassment as “to willfully engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that first responder and serves no legitimate purpose.”Any person found to violate this act commits a misdemeanor of the second degree. SB 556: Protection of Specified AdultsThis act authorizes financial institutions to delay a disbursement or transaction from an account of a specified adult, under certain conditions. A specified adult is defined as a person 65 years of age or older or a vulnerable adult. These adults are at higher risk of being targets because of their accumulation of assets and funds compared to other age groups. The bill states that the Legislature found individuals in this state of age or disability were at an increased risk of financial exploitation. This would lead to the loss of their assets, funds, investments and investment accounts. The bill allows financial institutions to put delays on disbursements and transactions they suspect to come from financial exploitation. It also provides employees a level of immunity from liability for taking those actions.HB 267: Building RegulationsThis act relates to residential building permits and would require certain governing bodies to create a program to expedite the process for issuing those permits. HB 1093: Florida Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal ActThis act amends previous laws specifying the duties of a fiduciary in providing that the allocation, determination or exercise of discretion is presumed to be fair to all beneficiaries. SB 362: Medical Treatment Under the Workers’ Compensation LawAmending previous law, this act would increase the limit on witness fees and maximum reimbursement allowance for physicians and surgical procedures. SB 892: Dental Insurance ClaimsThis bill amends previous law in prohibiting a contract between a health insurer and a dentist from applying certain restrictions on payment methods. It would also prohibit a health insurer from charging a fee to transmit a payment through ACH transfer. SB 7054: Private Activity BondsThis bill will require the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration to determine the state volume limitation each year and publish the information. It would also repeal provisions relating to procedures for obtaining requirements, issuance reports, allocations and limitations on allocations.
Roughly 200 new laws are coming to Florida in 2025 – but only nine will be taking effect on Jan. 1.
Here are the nine new laws:
HB 3: Social Media Restrictions for Minors
This act would require social media platforms to prohibit certain minors from creating new accounts. It would also require them to terminate certain accounts and provide additional options for terminating accounts.
Additionally, it provides conditions which certain social media platforms need to follow to prohibit certain minors from entering contracts to allowing them to be become account holders.
The act defines social media as an online forum, website or application that; allows users to upload or view content of other users, uses algorithms that analyze user data to curate content for users, has infinite scrolling, push notifications containing information about the user’s account, displays personal interactive metrics such as “likes” and “reshares.”
This does not include services where the sole function is direct messaging or e-mail shared between a sender and the recipients without posting publicly to users outside the recipients from the senders.
HB 135: Voter Registration Applications
An act that provides an exception to a requirement that certain voter registration applicants must be registered without a party affiliation. It would also require the department to make sure that technological information processes and updates do not change certain information without written consent.
Any applicant who fails to designate a party affiliation will be registered without any affiliation. The supervisor of the department must notify the voter by mail that they have been registered without any party affiliation and provide the steps necessary to update that information.
The affiliation of any person who is updating their voter registration information can not be changed without written consent.
SB 184: Impeding, Threatening or Harassing First Responders
This act prohibits a person from violating a warning received from a first responder not to approach or remain within a specified distance of the first responder. This would provide criminal penalties following the effective date.
The act defines harassment as “to willfully engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that first responder and serves no legitimate purpose.”
Any person found to violate this act commits a misdemeanor of the second degree.
SB 556: Protection of Specified Adults
This act authorizes financial institutions to delay a disbursement or transaction from an account of a specified adult, under certain conditions.
A specified adult is defined as a person 65 years of age or older or a vulnerable adult. These adults are at higher risk of being targets because of their accumulation of assets and funds compared to other age groups.
The bill states that the Legislature found individuals in this state of age or disability were at an increased risk of financial exploitation. This would lead to the loss of their assets, funds, investments and investment accounts.
The bill allows financial institutions to put delays on disbursements and transactions they suspect to come from financial exploitation. It also provides employees a level of immunity from liability for taking those actions.
HB 267: Building Regulations
This act relates to residential building permits and would require certain governing bodies to create a program to expedite the process for issuing those permits.
HB 1093: Florida Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act
This act amends previous laws specifying the duties of a fiduciary in providing that the allocation, determination or exercise of discretion is presumed to be fair to all beneficiaries.
SB 362: Medical Treatment Under the Workers’ Compensation Law
Amending previous law, this act would increase the limit on witness fees and maximum reimbursement allowance for physicians and surgical procedures.
SB 892: Dental Insurance Claims
This bill amends previous law in prohibiting a contract between a health insurer and a dentist from applying certain restrictions on payment methods. It would also prohibit a health insurer from charging a fee to transmit a payment through ACH transfer.
SB 7054: Private Activity Bonds
This bill will require the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration to determine the state volume limitation each year and publish the information. It would also repeal provisions relating to procedures for obtaining requirements, issuance reports, allocations and limitations on allocations.
