Florida’s New Laws for 2025: What You Need to Know
Posted By Darrigo & Diaz
On January 1st, Florida will implement nine new laws for 2025 addressing various aspects of public life, from online safety for minors to building regulations.
In Florida, new laws often go into effect on January 1st, marking the start of each year with updates that can impact residents and visitors alike. These changes can include updates to safety regulations, personal injury laws, driving rules, and property liability standards. Understanding these new laws is essential to ensure you stay informed and protected. In this article, our Florida injury attorneys break down the nine new Florida laws for 2025.
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9 laws taking effect in Florida on January 1, 2025
These legislative changes reflect Florida’s efforts to address contemporary issues ranging from online safety and public health to financial exploitation and infrastructure development. Residents and stakeholders should familiarize themselves with these new laws to ensure compliance and understand their implications.
1. Online Protection for Minors (HB 3):
Restrictions: Prohibits children under 14 from creating social media accounts. Teens aged 14 and 15 may have accounts with parental consent.
Platform requirements: Mandates social media platforms to delete accounts of users under 14 and remove all associated personal information, unless legally required to retain it.
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2. Threatening First Responders (SB 184):
Provisions: Establishes a first-degree misdemeanor for individuals who, after receiving a warning, approach within 25 feet of a first responder engaged in official duties, thereby impeding their work, threatening physical harm, or harassing them.
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3. Voter Registration Applications (HB 135):
Party affiliation changes: Requires written consent for any changes to a voter’s party affiliation during registration updates, ensuring that such changes are intentional and authorized.
Departmental duties: Obliges the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to provide applicants with a printed receipt documenting any party affiliation changes during voter registration processes.
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4. Building Regulations (HB 267):
Permit processing timeframes: Sets specific deadlines for local governments to process building permit applications, aiming to streamline construction projects and improve efficiency.
Eligibility requirements: Modifies criteria for individuals seeking certification as building code inspectors or plans examiners, potentially broadening the pool of qualified professionals.
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5. Medical Treatment Under Workers’ Compensation Law (SB 362):
Reimbursement rates: Increases the maximum reimbursement allowances for physicians and surgical procedures under workers’ compensation, enhancing compensation for healthcare providers.
Expert witness fees: Raises the maximum fees that certain expert witnesses can charge in workers’ compensation cases, potentially attracting more qualified experts.
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6. Protection of Specified Adults (SB 556):
Safeguards: Allows financial institutions to delay transactions or disbursements from accounts of older adults (65+) or vulnerable adults if financial exploitation is suspected, providing additional protection against fraud.
Notification requirements: Requires institutions to notify the account holder and a trusted contact within three business days of delaying a transaction, ensuring transparency.
Review period: Mandates an internal review of the suspected exploitation, with delays limited to 15 business days, extendable by an additional 30 days if necessary.
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7. Dental Insurance Claims (SB 892):
Contractual agreements: Prohibits contracts between health insurers and dentists from containing certain payment method restrictions, aiming to streamline the insurance claim process.
Fee restrictions: Bars health insurers from charging fees for transmitting certain payments without the dentist’s consent, potentially reducing administrative costs.
Claim denials: Prevents insurers from denying claims for procedures that were previously authorized, ensuring consistency in coverage decisions.
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8. Private Activity Bonds (SB 7054):
Regulatory revisions: Updates regulations related to the allocation and utilization of private activity bonds, which are used to finance public-benefit projects, to maximize their effectiveness.
Allocation adjustments: Revises regions, pools, and timelines associated with bond allocations, encouraging the efficient use of these bonds for public improvements.
Carryforward provisions: Extends provisions for unused bond allocations, allowing for future utilization in qualifying projects.
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9. Florida Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act (HB 1093):
Provisions: Updates trust and estate management laws by replacing the Florida Uniform Principal and Income Act with the Florida Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act. Key features updates include allowing trustees to invest for the maximum total return, enhancing flexibility of estate planning, and enabling the conversion of an existing trust into a unitrust.
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Injured in an accident in Florida?
Call the Florida Accident Attorneys at Darrigo & Diaz for a free consultation at (813) 437-5523
For over 25 years, the Florida car accident attorneys at Darrigo & Diaz have fought tirelessly on behalf of Central Florida accident victims and their families. We specialize in all types of automobile accidents, including accidents involving commercial trucks, drunk drivers, motorcycles, left-hand turns, pedestrians and bicyclists.
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Florida, contact us immediately through our secured contact form. Or call our office at (813) 437-5523 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation and connect with an experienced and knowledgeable accident lawyer.
