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CS/HB 255 — Aggravated Animal Cruelty
by Criminal Justice Subcommittee and Reps. Chaney and Weinberger (CS/SB 494 Criminal Justice Committee and Senators Leek, Arrington, and Rodriguez)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Criminal Justice Committee (CJ)
Beginning January 1, 2026, the bill requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) post on its website the names of those persons who have been convicted of, or who have entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a violation of s. 828.12, F.S., relating to animal cruelty. The information posted on the FDLE’s website must be in a searchable format.
The bill amends the Florida Criminal Code Worksheet, to create a sentencing point multiplier for the crime of aggravated animal cruelty. If the primary offense the defendant is convicted of is aggravated animal cruelty, which includes the knowing and intentional torture or torment of an animal that injured, mutilated, or killed the animal, the defendant’s subtotal sentence points are multiplied by 1.25.
The bill may be cited as “Dexter’s Law.”
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2025.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 112-0