FloridaFlorida directs appropriated money to child-crime task forces
Starting July 1, 2026, the Department of Law Enforcement will distribute any lawmakers' appropriations among recognized child-crime task forces and its own efforts.
What it does
The law provides for annual grants to local law enforcement entities for work against online crimes targeting children, including sting operations. Grant money depends on a legislative appropriation.
If lawmakers appropriate money, the law directs 80 percent to be divided equally among recognized task forces and 20 percent to the Department of Law Enforcement.
Argument forAppropriated money could help recognized task forces fight online crimes against children by paying for staff, training, travel, and technology.
Argument againstGiving the department 20 percent may leave it with less money for statewide work, while 80 percent is divided equally among task forces.
More detail
The Department of Law Enforcement annually awards grants to local law enforcement entities for work against Internet crimes targeting children. The text refers to local law enforcement affiliates and agencies, but the amendment wording does not clearly establish which term controls. Grant money is available only if the Legislature appropriates it for this purpose. The department may set application periods and selection criteria. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
The Department of Law Enforcement distributes money appropriated to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Funding Program. The program supports Florida Internet Crimes Against Children task forces recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice. The Legislature must appropriate money for the program. Program money may support law enforcement work against Internet crimes against children, including staff, overtime, training, travel, and technology. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Chapter No. 2026-96Latest
- May 22Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- May 21Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 17Ordered enrolledMinor
- Mar 11CS passed; YEAS 113, NAYS 0Passed House
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 11Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Mar 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 101st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Mar 10Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/11/2026)
- Mar 10Bill referred to House Calendar
- Feb 11In Messages
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Immediately certified
- Feb 11CS passed; YEAS 39 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Feb 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 9Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/11/26
- Feb 5Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 5Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 15 NAYS 0Minor
- Feb 2On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 02/05/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
- Jan 29Now in Fiscal Policy
- Jan 28Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0Minor
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 23On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice, 01/28/26, 3:45 pm, 37 Senate Building
- Jan 22CS by Criminal Justice read 1st time
- Jan 22Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
- Jan 21Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
- Jan 20CS by Criminal Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
- Vote recorded Favorable with Committee Substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 15On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 01/20/26, 3:30 pm, 37 Senate Building
- Jan 13IntroducedMinor
- 2025
- Dec 9Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; Fiscal PolicyMinor
- Nov 24FiledIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety