FloridaFlorida law makes repeat battery a felony and allows tougher sentences for officer injuries
Starting July 1, 2026, Florida law makes a repeat battery a felony for people with certain prior convictions and allows tougher sentencing when battery injures an officer soon after release.
What it does
A person who injures a law enforcement officer within three years after release from a qualifying correctional facility may face prison releasee reoffender sentencing.
A person with a prior battery conviction or a conviction for resisting an officer with violence commits a felony by committing another battery.
Argument forPeople who injure officers soon after release could face prison time, which may help protect officers and the public from repeat violence.
Argument againstA person who injures an officer within three years of release could face a mandatory prison term, even when other circumstances might otherwise lead to a shorter sentence.
More detail
A person who commits or tries to commit battery on a law enforcement officer that causes bodily injury may be sentenced as a prison releasee reoffender. The person must commit or attempt the battery within three years after release from a qualifying correctional facility, following incarceration for an offense punishable by more than one year in Florida. A state attorney may ask the court to apply this status. The state must prove the person qualifies by more likely than not. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
A person with one qualifying prior conviction who commits another battery commits a third-degree felony. This applies when a person with one qualifying prior conviction commits a second or later battery. A qualifying prior conviction is for battery, aggravated battery, felony battery, or resisting an officer with violence. A conviction counts after a plea or trial, even if the court withheld adjudication or the person pleaded no contest. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 17Chapter No. 2026-149Latest
- Jun 16Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Jun 9Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 17Ordered enrolledMinor
- Mar 10CS passed; YEAS 110, NAYS 1Passed House
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 10Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 10Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Mar 10Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 91st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)Minor
- Mar 9Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/10/2026)
- Mar 9Bill referred to House Calendar
- Feb 26In Messages
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26Immediately certified
- Feb 26CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Feb 26Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 26Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 25Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/26/26
- Feb 25Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Feb 24Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0Minor
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice read 1st time
- Feb 19On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/24/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
- Feb 19Now in Rules
- Feb 19Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
- Feb 18CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
- Vote recorded Favorable with Committee Substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice, 02/18/26, 10:30 am, 37 Senate Building
- Jan 14Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
- Jan 13CS by Criminal Justice read 1st time
- Jan 13IntroducedMinor
- Jan 13Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
- Jan 12CS by Criminal Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
- Vote recorded Favorable with Committee Substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 5On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 01/12/26, 1:30 pm, 37 Senate Building
- 2025
- Dec 1Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; RulesMinor
- Nov 7FiledIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety