The Legislature passed a bipartisan bill to beef up animal welfare laws that is heading to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.
The Senate passed HB 559 on Wednesday by a vote of 37-0, the final step to advance the Legislature. The House previously unanimously approved the measure last month.
Sen. Kristen Arrington, a Kissimmee Democrat, and Rep. Linda Chaney, a St. Pete Beach Republican, said the bill was critical to protect children and animals.
The bill creates new third-degree felony offenses if an adult commits aggravated animal cruelty, fighting/baiting animals or does sexual activities involving animals. In addition, the new felony offense would cover an adult enticing a minor to commit those acts.
“Protecting children means protecting them from every form of violence, including the trauma of witnessing animal cruelty,” Arrington said in a statement after the vote. “For too long, there has been a gap in our statutes when abusers weaponize cruelty in front of a child or force them to participate. CS/HB 559 ensures the proper tools are in place to hold offenders fully accountable.”
The bill also makes tougher punishments for someone convicted of fighting and baiting animals.
In addition, HB 559 clarifies Dexter’s Law, which took effect this year, to create a statewide public registry for convicted animal abusers. The database maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) would need to post the animal abuser’s name, aliases, birthdate, county of conviction, and more information, in addition to the abuser’s booking photo.
The FDLE would be required to keep the abuser in the database for three years after the conviction for the misdemeanor offense, five years after a felony conviction and ten years for an additional conviction, regardless of whether it was a misdemeanor or felony. The department must also create a process for someone to petition to have their name removed from the database under the bill.
“CSHB 559 Animal Welfare builds on Dexter’s Law that I passed last year to further protect animals and our communities,” Chaney said. “The bill redirects juveniles onto a path of improved mental health and breaks the cycle of animal abuse, strengthens tools for shelters and rescues to keep animals out of the hands of known abusers, and empowers local governments to stop animal cruelty in their communities. People who abuse animals are 5x more likely to harm people.”
