Florida's Vital Bills Await DeSantis' Signature: What's Next?

Pinellas County, Florida, USA - As the summer sun shines down on Florida, a flurry of legislative activity continues to shape the Sunshine State. On June 13, 2025, twelve bills were sent to Governor Ron DeSantis for his potential signing. If he gives the nod, these bills will take effect on July 1, alongside more than 80 other pieces of legislation introduced this year. The bills cover a wide range of subjects, from farm products to capital felonies and mental health reforms.

Among the notable proposals is HB 211, which seeks to redefine what constitutes a “farm product.” This amendment expands the definition to include all plants and plant products, effectively preventing local governments from regulating farm operations on agricultural land. Another important bill, HB 633, calls for regular audits of behavioral health managing entities by the Department of Children and Families, thereby ensuring that entities providing mental health services operate properly.

Criminal Justice Changes

As we dive deeper into the legislative landscape, it’s hard to ignore the seismic shifts in Florida’s criminal justice system resulting from laws enacted in recent sessions. In January, significant revisions came to the forefront. These included stricter pretrial detention guidelines, increased penalties for child sexual abuse, and a lowered threshold for applying the death penalty. Particularly controversial is the expansion of the death penalty to include convictions for child rape, which challenges existing Supreme Court precedent.

One of the pivotal pieces of legislation, House Bill 1627, mandates that the Florida Supreme Court establish uniform bond recommendations statewide. This law restricts lower court judges to increasing bail amounts only, putting a cap on their discretion, which has sparked concern among critics about potential negative impacts on community ties and the court system as a whole. Critics argue that it may lead to overcrowded jails as new hearing processes pile on additional burdens.

Moreover, the new law that lowers the requirement for death sentences from a unanimous verdict to just eight out of twelve jurors makes Florida the strictest state regarding capital punishment. This alteration has spurred confusion regarding its implications on ongoing cases, and with Florida ranking second in the nation for executions, critics warn that the risk of wrongful convictions looms larger than ever.

Mental Health Reforms

Turning to the mental health arena, there’s promising news with recent reforms aimed distinctly at supporting individuals within the criminal justice system. In April, the Florida Senate unanimously approved a bill designed to provide treatment rather than incarceration for those suffering from mental illness. Key provisions include establishing probation conditions and expanding training programs under a new grant initiative. This reform is particularly poignant, as it was named after Tristin Murphy, a young man who tragically died by suicide while incarcerated in 2021. His mother’s testimony regarding missed opportunities for intervention has underscored the urgency of these reforms.

The purpose of this legislation goes beyond immediate treatment—it aims to break the vicious cycle of individuals with severe mental illnesses repeatedly cycling through jails and emergency rooms. These reforms recognize that many of these individuals need support, not punishment, and aim to implement a new model that focuses on treatment.

It’s clear that Florida stands at a crossroads with these legislative changes. With the hopeful idea that improvements are on the horizon, people are eager to see how these bills unfold, especially concerning the broader implications they will have across the community. As we await the Governor’s decisions, the clock is ticking down to July 1, when Florida could step into a new era of policy and reform.

For more details on the legislation moving through Florida, Click Orlando reports that these new bills are set to reshape various sectors across the state. Conversely, to explore the dramatic shifts within the criminal justice system, The Alligator offers insights into the recent changes. Lastly, for an in-depth look at mental health reforms, WCTV sheds light on the efforts being made to improve treatment approaches.