From new social media restrictions for minors, to car racing penalties across the state of Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed nearly 200 laws that went into effect on Monday, July 1st.
Here are some of the most impactful laws that took effect Monday:
- HB 49 Employment and Curfew of Minors: 16 and 17-year-olds would be able to work earlier hours, more than eight hours per day on a school night and more than six days in a row. It also allows 16 and 17-year-olds to work the same number of hours as a person who is 18 or older.
- SB 12 64 History of Communism: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1264 on the 63rd anniversary of the “Bay of Pigs” which will now require Florida public schools to educate students on the history and “evil accuracies” of communism and socialism. The bill mandates the inclusion of the history of communism in public schools, beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year and will be implemented to students in an age and developmentally appropriate manner.
- HB 3 Online Protections for Minors: Under HB 3, social media companies would be mandated to prohibit individuals under the age of 14 from having accounts on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Those aged 14 and older would also be required to obtain parental consent. It will also allow parents to decide whether 14- and 15-year-olds can have a social media account and protect the ability of Floridians to remain anonymous online.
- HB 321 Release of Balloons: The law would fine Floridians found releasing balloons, typically used to remember loved ones or for gender reveals, a littering fine. Under this new legislation, the intentional release of even one balloon will carry a $150 fine per violation. Balloons over 15 pounds would incur a fine that can reach up to $1,000. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s solid waste management trust fund would receive $50 of the fine.
- CS/SB 1764 Car Racing Penalties: The new law would increase the maximum fine for violations of the prohibitions against drag racing, street takeovers, stunt driving, competitions, contests, tests, or exhibitions; revising applicability of the penalty for second violations of prohibitions against drag racing, street takeovers, stunt driving, competitions, contests, tests, or exhibitions.
- CS/CS/SB 1084 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: The new law would ban the sale and manufacture of synthetic meat, and also prevent local governments from regulating electric vehicle charging stations. It also enhances criminal penalties for people who commit crimes on a farm. It had the support of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, who claimed that fake meat is a safety hazard to society.
- HB 1223 Minimum Age for Firearm Purchase or Transfer: The new law would lower the minimum age to buy certain guns in Florida from 21 to 18. In 2018, the Florida Legislature raised the minimum age to buy a gun from 18 to 21 after the Parkland massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. It was part of the first new gun restrictions in the state in decades.
- HB 7063 Anti-human Trafficking: The new law will raise the age to become a stripper in the Sunshine State from 18 to 21. It was part of a broader bill aiming to prevent human trafficking. The law, as amended, prohibits anyone under 21 from working at any adult entertainment establishment. “ (A)dult entertainment establishments are widely recognized as being a significant part of the sex trafficking network used by traffickers to coerce and facilitate men, women, and children into performing sexual acts,” the bill states. It adds that “victims of sex trafficking are frequently recruited to work as performers or employees in adult entertainment establishments.” Owners, managers or employees face a misdemeanor charge if they knowingly employ, contract, or otherwise permit someone under that age to work in an adult entertainment establishment. That charge is upped to a felony if said underage employee performs or works while nude.