Florida’s new laws take effect Jan. 1: Here’s what you need to know

TAMPA, Fla. – To prohibit children under 14 from having social media accounts so as not to harass first responders, there are nine new ones Florida laws that come into force on January 1, 2025.

Online protection for minors

According to this law, regulated social media platforms are prohibited from allowing anyone under the age of 14 to have an account. It allows minors who are 14 or 15 years old to become account holders, but only with the consent of a parent or guardian.

The bill also requires regulated social media platforms to close accounts belonging to anyone under the age of 14. However, it allows account holders or their parents or guardians to close accounts.

Social media platforms must permanently delete all personal information they hold about closed accounts, unless otherwise required by law to retain personal information.

Click Here to read more.

First responder threat

According to this law, anyone told by a working first to stay away must stay 25 meters away and not:

• Impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform such a task

• Threaten the first responder with physical harm

• Harass the first response

Violation of the law is a misdemeanor of the second degree.

Click Here to read the full law.

Voter registration applications

Under this law, registered voters can change their party affiliation only if they designate and agree to the change in writing.

The bill also amends the voter registration obligations of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) by:

• Prohibition of DHSMV from changing the party affiliation of an applicant who updates his voter registration, unless the applicant designates and consents in writing to change his party affiliation.

• Requiring DHSMV, upon verification of voter registration information and receipt of the applicant’s electronic signature, to provide the applicant with a printed receipt that includes the submitted voter registration information and documents any changes in party affiliation.

• Requiring DHSMV to ensure that processes and technology updates do not change an applicant’s party affiliation without the applicant’s written consent.

Click Here to read more.

Construction regulations

This law sets deadlines for local authorities to process applications for building permits and notify permit applicants of any deficiencies.

Among other things, it also changes the eligibility requirements that a person must meet to take an examination for certification as a building code inspector or plan examiner.

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Medical treatment under the Workers’ Compensation Act

This law increases how much health care providers can be paid while granting a deposition and changes reimbursement allowances for doctors and surgical procedures.

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Protection of specified adults

The law provides additional protection for specified adults (a person who is 65 years of age or older or a vulnerable adult) who have accounts with financial institutions and may be victims of suspected financial exploitation.

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Dental insurance claims

The law amends the provisions of the Florida Insurance Code regarding covered dental services, contractual agreements, and dental indemnity payments by a health insurer, a health limited service organization (PLHSO), or a health maintenance organization (HMO).

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Florida Uniform Fiduciary Income and Master Act

This bill replaces the current Florida Uniform Principal and Fiduciary Income Act with the Florida Uniform Principal and Fiduciary Income Act, which:

• It allows total return investment according to “modern portfolio theory”.

• They provide for the conversion of an existing trust into a unitrust.

• Provides flexibility for more individualized estate planning.

• Provides a provision of applicable law to reduce jurisdictional disputes.

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Private activity bonds

This law updates state statutes regarding private activity bonds. Among other things, this:

• Provides the legislative intent to maximize the annual use of private activity bonds to finance improvements, projects and programs that serve public purposes and benefit the social and economic well-being of Floridians;

• Revise bond allocation regions, pools, and timelines to strengthen underutilized pools and accelerate bond utilization;

• Allows all volume caps allocated in a confirmation to have the right to be carried forward, rather than being limited to certain types of projects or based on the value of the confirmation;

• Replaces the existing volume cap allocation request and grant processes with an electronic application where all notices and issuance reports will be submitted on the division’s website instead of via certified/overnight mail.

Click Here to read more.

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