TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed four new bills into law on Friday, according to his office.
These are just the latest in a series of bills signed by the governor this month, including two that officially recognize the newly dubbed “Gulf of America.”
The four latest laws to clear his desk are as follows:
HB 513 — Electronic Court Orders
House Bill 513 requires clerks of court to electronically submit the following within six hours of being issued to a local sheriff’s office:
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A court order for involuntary examination
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A summons related to a petition for involuntary services
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A court order requiring a hearing to be held on a petition for a risk protection order, a copy of the petition, and a notice of hearing
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A copy of notice of hearing, the petition, and the temporary ex parte risk protection order or final risk protection order
The law will take effect on July 1.
HB 655 — Pet Insurance
House Bill 655 amends state statutes to include pet insurance in the definition of “property insurance.”
More specifically, the law includes coverage for accidents involving pets or when pets fall ill.
The law also seeks a myriad of changes to disclosure requirements and regulations, such as mandating that pet insurance agents avoid misrepresenting wellness programs as pet insurance.
The law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
HB 1313 — Trust Funds
House Bill 1313 re-creates the Resilient Florida Trust Fund for the associated state grant program.
The law will take effect on July 1.
SB 421 — Peer Support for First Responders
Senate Bill 421 expands the definition of a “first responder” to include law enforcement agency support personnel.
The change gives these personnel the same access to peer support services and ensures they receive the same confidentiality protections as other first responders.
The law will take effect on July 1.
Meanwhile, Legislative records show that there are still several other bills that have been passed by lawmakers and now await DeSantis’ signature.
Those bills are as follows:
HB 157 — Service of Process
House Bill 157 seeks to amend state statutes regarding registered agents of corporations.
The bill would expand the hours during which registered agents are required to keep a designated registered office open to receive potential legal documents. In all, these offices would have to be open an additional two hours each weekday.
In addition, legal documents under this bill could be left with an employee instead of the registered agent if the agent isn’t present.
If approved, the bill will take effect immediately.
HB 479 — Leaving the Scene of a Crash
House Bill 479 would allow a court to order drivers who fled the scene of a crash after striking property to make restitution to the property’s owner.
If approved, the bill will take effect on Oct. 1.
HB 597 — Diabetes Management
House Bill 597 allows schools to request prescriptions for glucagon from a county health department or healthcare practitioner to treat students with diabetes.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 615 — Electronic Notice to Tenants
House Bill 615 would allow landlords to deliver notices to tenants electronically if both parties agree to the method.
Under this bill, both tenants and landlords would be allowed to revoke such an agreement simply by providing written notice to the other party.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 791 — Surrendered Infants
House Bill 791 would allow certain hospitals and fire stations to use “infant safety devices” to accept surrendered infants.
Under this bill, such a device would have to be equipped with a surveillance system to monitor the device 24 hours a day.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 1173 — Florida Trust Code
House Bill 1173 aims to amend the Florida Trust Code, which governs the creation and operation of trusts in the state.
More specifically, the bill would limit the “special interest exception” for charitable trust enforcement by giving the Attorney General exclusive authority to assert the rights of a qualified beneficiary.
If approved, the bill will take effect immediately.
HB 1195 — Fentanyl Testing
House Bill 1195 — dubbed “Gage’s Law” — would require hospitals conducting urine tests for possible drug overdoses to test for fentanyl.
The bill is named for Gage Taylor, who died of an overdose in 2022 after taking a drug he didn’t realize was laced with fentanyl. At the time, the hospital didn’t test for the drug.
As a result, law enforcement agents were initially unable to charge Taylor’s suspected drug dealer.
If approved, the bill will take effect on July 1.
HB 7003 — Financial Technology Sandbox
House Bill 7003 aims to remove the scheduled repeal date of a public records exemption under state law.
This exemption applies to sensitive business information held by the state for Financial Technology Sandbox applications.
The exemption is set to be automatically repealed per the Open Government Sunset Review Act on Oct. 2, though this bill would prevent that from happening.
If approved, the bill will take effect on Oct. 1.
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