Adults involving minors in animal offenses face felony penalties

An adult commits a third-degree felony by causing or enticing a minor to commit, or committing in a minor’s presence, specified animal offenses. This applies to people age 18 or older and covers animal cruelty, animal fighting or baiting, and sexual activities involving animals. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

A juvenile court must order a psychological evaluation for a minor who commits animal cruelty and, if recommended, counseling or treatment. This applies to minors who commit animal cruelty described in either subsection (1) or subsection (2) of Florida Statutes section 828.12. The parent or guardian pays, or the state pays if the minor is a ward of the state. If the court finds indigence and significant financial hardship, it must waive or reduce the fee. The court sets the length of any recommended care. It may hold a parent or guardian in contempt for willfully refusing to follow the recommended treatment. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

The Department of Law Enforcement must post specified identifying and case information about covered people, and court clerks and county detention facilities must provide the information, data, and images. The posting applies to people convicted of, or who pleaded guilty or no contest to, an offense under Florida Statutes section 828.12. The department posts names and aliases, birth dates, conviction details, identifying marks, and booking photos for people convicted of, or who pleaded guilty or no contest to, an offense under section 828.12. The department posts information for three years after a first misdemeanor conviction, five years after a first felony conviction, or ten years after a later conviction. A person whose conviction is overturned or whose record is sealed may petition for removal; with adequate documents, the department must remove the information within 30 days. The department must begin posting before January 1, 2027. Posting periods run from the conviction date.

Counties and cities may set maximum civil penalties of $2,500 for a first animal control or cruelty ordinance violation, $5,000 for a second, and $7,500 for a third or later violation. These limits apply to civil infractions under county or city animal control or cruelty ordinances. These are maximum amounts, not required fines. A local ordinance must provide for a lower penalty when the person does not contest the citation. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.