H0559Introduced in the House
Animal Welfare
Introduced by Criminal Justice Subcommittee
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.
Official description
Creating the offense of causing or enticing a minor to commit, or in the presence of a minor committing, animal cruelty; requiring a court to order a minor who commits specified acts of animal cruelty to undergo a psychological evaluation and receive counseling and treatment for a specified time period; requiring the minor's parent or guardian or the state to pay the cost of such evaluation, counseling, and treatment; providing an exception; authorizing the court to hold the parent or guardian in contempt under certain circumstances; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to post on its website specified information relating to each individual convicted of specified animal cruelty offenses; specifying time periods for which the information shall be posted; requiring the department to develop a procedure to allow a person to petition for the removal of his or her information under specified circumstances; requiring the department to remove specified information under specified circumstances; specifying the time period within which such information must be removed; authorizing the department to adopt rules; requiring clerks of court and county detention facilities to provide the Department of Law Enforcement with specified information, data, and images; creating the offense of causing or enticing a minor to commit, or in the presence of a minor committing, fighting or baiting animals; creating the offense of causing or enticing a minor to commit, or in the presence of a minor committing, sexual activities involving animals; increasing the maximum civil penalty for specified violations of ordinances relating to animal control or cruelty; increasing the level on the offense severity ranking chart for fighting or baiting animals; ranking offenses created by the act on the offense severity ranking chart, etc.
Where it stands
Chapter No. 2026-78
May 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
1 recorded vote · each counted separately
SenateStage: Senate: Third Reading RCS#20 · March 4, 2026
37
Yes
0
No
2
Absent or Not Voting
39 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Debbie Mayfield | 32 | Yes |
| LaVon Bracy Davis | 40 | Yes |
| Don Gaetz | 1 | Yes |
| Jay Trumbull | 2 | Yes |
| Corey Simon | 3 | Yes |
| Clay Yarborough | 4 | Yes |
| Tracie Davis | 5 | Absent |
| Jennifer Bradley | 6 | Yes |
| Tom Leek | 7 | Yes |
| Tommy Wright | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Filed
Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee
Referred to Justice Budget Subcommittee
Referred to Judiciary Committee
Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
PCS added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda
Favorable with CS by Criminal Justice Subcommittee
Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
CS Filed
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
Referred to Judiciary Committee
Now in Judiciary Committee
Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
Favorable by Judiciary Committee
Reported out of Judiciary Committee
Bill released to House Calendar
Added to Second Reading Calendar
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
Read 2nd time
Added to Third Reading Calendar
Read 3rd time
CS passed; YEAS 114, NAYS 0
In Messages
Referred to Rules
Received
Withdrawn from Rules
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
Substituted for CS/SB 676
Read 2nd time
Read 3rd time
CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0
In Messages
Ordered enrolled
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
Approved by Governor
Chapter No. 2026-78
Verify the information
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