Florida’s New Animal Welfare Law
Reviewed by Michael P. Maddux, Esq. | Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer | Florida Super Lawyer for 16 Consecutive Years
Florida’s new animal welfare law, CS/HB 559, takes effect October 1, 2026. It significantly expands criminal penalties for animal cruelty while adding new protections aimed specifically at minors.
New Crimes Involving Minors and Animal Cruelty
Florida’s new animal welfare law creates a new offense for causing or enticing a minor to commit animal cruelty. It also creates an offense for committing animal cruelty in the presence of a minor. The law creates similar new offenses for causing or enticing a minor to participate in or witness animal fighting or baiting. It does the same for causing or enticing a minor to be involved in sexual activities involving animals.
When a minor commits specified acts of animal cruelty, courts must now order that minor to undergo a psychological evaluation. Courts must also order the minor to receive counseling and treatment for a set period of time. The minor’s parent or guardian, or the state, must generally pay for this evaluation and treatment, though the law allows an exception in certain circumstances. Courts may also hold a parent or guardian in contempt under specific conditions related to this requirement.
A Public Registry for Animal Cruelty Convictions
The law requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to post specified information on its website. This information covers individuals convicted of certain animal cruelty offenses, and it must remain posted for specified time periods. The department must also create a process allowing someone to petition for removal of their information under certain circumstances. The department must remove information automatically when specified conditions are met, within a set time period. Clerks of court and county detention facilities must provide the department with the information, data, and images needed to maintain this registry.
Increased Penalties
Florida’s new animal welfare law raises the maximum civil penalty for certain violations of local ordinances relating to animal control or cruelty. It also increases the severity ranking for animal fighting or baiting offenses on Florida’s offense severity ranking chart. The law assigns severity rankings to the new offenses it creates as well.A companion bill, CS/SB 1004, passed alongside CS/HB 559 and became Chapter 2026-76. If you have questions about how this law may affect you or a family member, our office can help.