Florida 2024 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H0279 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	HB 279 2024
4	4
5	5
6	6
7	7	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
8	8	hb0279-00
9	9	Page 1 of 21
10	10	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
11	11
12	12
13	13
14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to assault weapons and large -capacity 2
16	16	magazines; creating s. 790.301, F.S.; providing 3
17	17	definitions; prohibiting the sale or transfer of an 4
18	18	assault weapon or a large -capacity magazine; providing 5
19	19	criminal penalties; providing exceptions; prohi biting 6
20	20	possession of an assault weapon or a large -capacity 7
21	21	magazine; providing criminal penalties; providing 8
22	22	exceptions; requiring certificates of possession for 9
23	23	assault weapons or large -capacity magazines lawfully 10
24	24	possessed before a specified date; provid ing 11
25	25	requirements for the certificates; requiring the 12
26	26	Department of Law Enforcement to conduct a background 13
27	27	investigation; requiring the department to adopt 14
28	28	rules; specifying the form of the certificates; 15
29	29	limiting sales or transfers of assault weapons or 16
30	30	large-capacity magazines documented by the 17
31	31	certificates; providing exceptions; providing 18
32	32	conditions for continued possession of such weapons or 19
33	33	large-capacity magazines; providing requirements for 20
34	34	an applicant who fails to qualify for a certificate of 21
35	35	possession; requiring certificates of transfer for 22
36	36	transfers of certain assault weapons or large -capacity 23
37	37	magazines; providing requirements for certificates of 24
38	38	transfer; requiring the department to maintain a file 25
39	39
40	40	HB 279 2024
41	41
42	42
43	43
44	44	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
45	45	hb0279-00
46	46	Page 2 of 21
47	47	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
48	48
49	49
50	50
51	51	of such certificates; providing for relinquishme nt of 26
52	52	assault weapons or large -capacity magazines; providing 27
53	53	requirements for transportation of assault weapons or 28
54	54	large-capacity magazines under certain circumstances; 29
55	55	providing criminal penalties; specifying circumstances 30
56	56	in which the manufacture or tran sportation of assault 31
57	57	weapons or large-capacity magazines is not prohibited; 32
58	58	exempting permanently inoperable firearms from certain 33
59	59	provisions; amending s. 775.087, F.S.; providing 34
60	60	enhanced criminal penalties for certain offenses when 35
61	61	committed with an ass ault weapon or a large -capacity 36
62	62	magazine; providing for severability; providing an 37
63	63	effective date. 38
64	64	39
65	65	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 40
66	66	41
67	67	Section 1. Section 790.301, Florida Statutes, is created 42
68	68	to read: 43
69	69	790.301 Assault weapo ns.— 44
70	70	(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 45
71	71	(a)1. "Assault weapon" means a selective -fire firearm 46
72	72	capable of fully automatic, semiautomatic, or burst fire at the 47
73	73	option of the user or any of the following specified 48
74	74	semiautomatic firearms: 49
75	75	a. All AK series, including, but not limited to, the 50
76	76
77	77	HB 279 2024
78	78
79	79
80	80
81	81	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
82	82	hb0279-00
83	83	Page 3 of 21
84	84	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
85	85
86	86
87	87
88	88	following: AK, AKM, AKS, AK -47, AK-74, ARM, MAK90, MISR, NHM90, 51
89	89	NHM91, SA 85, SA 93, VEPR, WASR -10, WUM, Rock River Arms LAR -47, 52
90	90	and Vector Arms AK-47. 53
91	91	b. All AR series, including, but not limited to , the 54
92	92	following: AR-10, AR-15, Bushmaster XM15, Armalite AR -180 and 55
93	93	M15, Olympic Arms, AR70, DPMS Tactical Rifles, Smith & Wesson 56
94	94	M&P15 Rifles, Colt AR -15, Rock River Arms LAR -15, and DoubleStar 57
95	95	AR rifles. 58
96	96	c. Algimec AGM1. 59
97	97	d. Barrett 82A1 and REC7. 60
98	98	e. Beretta AR-70 and Beretta Storm. 61
99	99	f. Bushmaster Auto Rifle. 62
100	100	g. Calico Liberty series. 63
101	101	h. Chartered Industries of Singapore SR -88. 64
102	102	i. Colt Sporter. 65
103	103	j. Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max-1, and Max-2. 66
104	104	k. FAMAS MAS 223. 67
105	105	l. Federal XC-900 and SC-450. 68
106	106	m. Fabrique National FN/FAL, FN/LAR, and FNC. 69
107	107	n. FNH PS90, SCAR, and FS2000. 70
108	108	o. Goncz High Tech Carbine. 71
109	109	p. Hi-Point Carbine. 72
110	110	q. HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, SP-89, and HK-PSG-1. 73
111	111	r. Kel-Tec Sub-2000, SU series, and RFB. 74
112	112	s. M1 Carbine. 75
113	113
114	114	HB 279 2024
115	115
116	116
117	117
118	118	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
119	119	hb0279-00
120	120	Page 4 of 21
121	121	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
122	122
123	123
124	124
125	125	t. SAR-8, SAR-4800, and SR9. 76
126	126	u. SIG 57 AMT and 500 Series. 77
127	127	v. SIG Sauer MCX Rifle. 78
128	128	w. SKS capable of accepting a detachable magazine. 79
129	129	x. SLG 95. 80
130	130	y. SLR 95 or 96. 81
131	131	z. Spectre Auto Carbine. 82
132	132	aa. Springfield Armory BM59, SAR -48, and G-3. 83
133	133	bb. Sterling MK-6 and MK-7. 84
134	134	cc. Steyr AUG. 85
135	135	dd. Sturm Ruger Mini -14 with folding stock. 86
136	136	ee. TNW M230 and M2HB. 87
137	137	ff. Thompson types, including Thompson T5. 88
138	138	gg. UZI, Galil and UZI Sporter, Galil Sporter, Galil 89
139	139	Sniper Rifle (Galatz), and Vector Arms UZI. 90
140	140	hh. Weaver Arms Nig hthawk. 91
141	141	2. All of the following handguns, copies, duplicates, or 92
142	142	altered facsimiles with the capability of any such weapon: 93
143	143	a. AK-47 pistol and Mini AK -47 pistol. 94
144	144	b. AR-15 pistol. 95
145	145	c. Australian Automatic Arms SAP pistol. 96
146	146	d. Bushmaster Auto Pistol. 97
147	147	e. Calico Liberty series pistols. 98
148	148	f. Encom MK-IV, MP-9, and MP-45. 99
149	149	g. Feather AT-9 and Mini-AT. 100
150	150
151	151	HB 279 2024
152	152
153	153
154	154
155	155	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
156	156	hb0279-00
157	157	Page 5 of 21
158	158	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
159	159
160	160
161	161
162	162	h. Goncz High-Tech Long pistol. 101
163	163	i. Holmes MP-83. 102
164	164	j. Iver Johnson Enforcer. 103
165	165	k. MAC-10, MAC-11, Masterpiece Arms MPA pistol series, and 104
166	166	Velocity Arms VMA series. 105
167	167	l. Intratec TEC-9, TEC-DC9, TEC-22 Scorpion, or AB-10. 106
168	168	m. UZI pistol and Micro -UZI pistol. 107
169	169	n. Colefire Magnum. 108
170	170	o. Scarab Skorpion. 109
171	171	p. Spectre Auto pistol. 110
172	172	q. German Sport 522 PK. 111
173	173	r. Chiappa Firearms Mfour -22. 112
174	174	s. DSA SA58 PKP FAL. 113
175	175	t. I.O. Inc. PPS-43C. 114
176	176	u. Kel-Tec PLR-16 pistol. 115
177	177	v. SIG Sauer P556 pistol. 116
178	178	w. Thompson TA5 series pistols. 117
179	179	x. Wilkinson "Linda" pistol. 118
180	180	3. All of the following shotguns, copies, duplicates, or 119
181	181	altered facsimiles with the capability o f any such weapon: 120
182	182	a. Armscor 30 BG. 121
183	183	b. Franchi SPAS-12 and Law-12. 122
184	184	c. Remington TAC-2 or TACB3 FS. 123
185	185	d. SPAS 12 and LAW 12. 124
186	186	e. Striker 12. 125
187	187
188	188	HB 279 2024
189	189
190	190
191	191
192	192	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
193	193	hb0279-00
194	194	Page 6 of 21
195	195	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
196	196
197	197
198	198
199	199	f. Streetsweeper. 126
200	200	g. Saiga. 127
201	201	h. USAS-12. 128
202	202	i. Kel-Tec KSG. 129
203	203	4. A part or combination of parts that converts a firearm 130
204	204	into an assault weapon or a combination of parts from which an 131
205	205	assault weapon may be assembled if those parts are in the 132
206	206	possession or under the control of the same person. 133
207	207	5. A semiautomatic firearm not listed in subparagraphs 1. -134
208	208	4. which meets any of the following criteria: 135
209	209	a. A semiautomatic rifle that has the ability to accept a 136
210	210	detachable magazine and has one or more of the following: 137
211	211	(I) A folding or telescoping stock; 138
212	212	(II) A pistol grip, thumbhole stock, Thordsen -type grip or 139
213	213	stock, or any other characteristic that can function as a grip; 140
214	214	(III) A bayonet mount; 141
215	215	(IV) A flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to 142
216	216	accommodate a flash suppressor; 143
217	217	(V) A grenade launcher; or 144
218	218	(VI) A shroud attached to the barrel, or tha t partially or 145
219	219	completely encircles the barrel, allowing the bearer to hold the 146
220	220	firearm with the nontrigger hand without being burned but that 147
221	221	excludes a slide that encloses the barrel. 148
222	222	b. A semiautomatic pistol that has the ability to accept a 149
223	223	detachable magazine and has one or more of the following: 150
224	224
225	225	HB 279 2024
226	226
227	227
228	228
229	229	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
230	230	hb0279-00
231	231	Page 7 of 21
232	232	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
233	233
234	234
235	235
236	236	(I) The capacity to accept a large -capacity magazine that 151
237	237	attaches to the pistol at a location outside of the pistol grip; 152
238	238	(II) A threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel 153
239	239	extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer; 154
240	240	(III) A slide that encloses the barrel and that permits 155
241	241	the shooter to hold the firearm with the nontrigger hand without 156
242	242	being burned; 157
243	243	(IV) A manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the 158
244	244	pistol is unloaded; 159
245	245	(V) A semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm; 160
246	246	(VI) A feature capable of functioning as a protruding grip 161
247	247	that can be held by the nontrigger hand; or 162
248	248	(VII) A folding, telescoping, or thumbhole stock. 163
249	249	c. A semiautomatic shotgun that has one or more of the 164
250	250	following: 165
251	251	(I) A folding or telescoping stock; 166
252	252	(II) A pistol grip, thumbhole stock, Thordsen -type grip or 167
253	253	stock, or any other characteristic that can function as a grip; 168
254	254	(III) A fixed magazine capacity in excess of 5 rounds; or 169
255	255	(IV) An ability to accept a detachable magazine. 170
256	256	d. A semiautomatic pistol or semiautomatic, centerfire, or 171
257	257	rimfire rifle with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to 172
258	258	accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition. 173
259	259	e. A part or combination of parts designed or intended t o 174
260	260	convert a firearm into an assault weapon or a combination of 175
261	261
262	262	HB 279 2024
263	263
264	264
265	265
266	266	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
267	267	hb0279-00
268	268	Page 8 of 21
269	269	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
270	270
271	271
272	272
273	273	parts from which an assault weapon may be assembled if those 176
274	274	parts are in the possession or under the control of the same 177
275	275	person. 178
276	276	(b) "Detachable magazine" means an ammunition feeding 179
277	277	device that can be removed from a firearm without disassembly of 180
278	278	the firearm action. 181
279	279	(c) "Fixed magazine" means an ammunition feeding device 182
280	280	contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a 183
281	281	manner that the device cannot be removed without disassemb ly of 184
282	282	the firearm action. 185
283	283	(d) "Large-capacity magazine" means an ammunition feeding 186
284	284	device with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds or a 187
285	285	conversion kit, part, or combination of parts from which such a 188
286	286	device can be assembled if those parts are in the possession or 189
287	287	under the control of the same person but does not include any of 190
288	288	the following: 191
289	289	1. A feeding device that has been permanently altered so 192
290	290	that it cannot accommodate more than 10 rounds; 193
291	291	2. A .22 caliber tube ammunition feeding device; or 194
292	292	3. A tubular magazine that is contained in a lever -action 195
293	293	firearm. 196
294	294	(e) "Licensed dealer" means a person who has a federal 197
295	295	firearms license. 198
296	296	(2) SALE OR TRANSFER. — 199
297	297	(a) A person who, within the state, distributes, 200
298	298
299	299	HB 279 2024
300	300
301	301
302	302
303	303	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
304	304	hb0279-00
305	305	Page 9 of 21
306	306	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
307	307
308	308
309	309
310	310	transports, or imports into the s tate; sells, keeps for sale, or 201
311	311	offers or exposes for sale; or transfers an assault weapon or a 202
312	312	large-capacity magazine, in violation of this section, to 203
313	313	another person, except as provided in paragraph (c), commits a 204
314	314	felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 205
315	315	775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, with a mandatory minimum 206
316	316	term of imprisonment of 2 years. 207
317	317	(b) A person who transfers or sells an assault weapon or a 208
318	318	large-capacity magazine to a person under 18 years of age in 209
319	319	violation of this sect ion commits a felony of the second degree, 210
320	320	punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, 211
321	321	with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 6 years. 212
322	322	(c) Paragraph (a) does not apply to: 213
323	323	1. The sale of assault weapons or large -capacity magazines 214
324	324	to the Department of Law Enforcement, a law enforcement agency 215
325	325	as defined in s. 934.02(10), the Department of Corrections, or 216
326	326	the military or naval forces of the state or of the United 217
327	327	States for use in the discharge of their official duties. 218
328	328	2. A person who is the executor or administrator of an 219
329	329	estate that includes an assault weapon or a large -capacity 220
330	330	magazine for which a certificate of possession has been issued 221
331	331	under subsection (4) and which is disposed of as authorized by 222
332	332	the probate court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted 223
333	333	under this section. 224
334	334	3. The transfer by bequest or intestate succession of an 225
335	335
336	336	HB 279 2024
337	337
338	338
339	339
340	340	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
341	341	hb0279-00
342	342	Page 10 of 21
343	343	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
344	344
345	345
346	346
347	347	assault weapon or a large -capacity magazine for which a 226
348	348	certificate of possession has been issued under subsection (4). 227
349	349	(3) POSSESSION.— 228
350	350	(a) Except as provided in this section or as otherwise 229
351	351	authorized by law, a person who, within the state, possesses an 230
352	352	assault weapon or a large -capacity magazine, commits a felony of 231
353	353	the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 232
354	354	775.083, or s. 775.084, with a mandatory minimum term of 233
355	355	imprisonment of 1 year. 234
356	356	(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to the possession of 235
357	357	assault weapons or large -capacity magazines by members or 236
358	358	employees of the Department of Law Enforcement, a law 237
359	359	enforcement agency as defined in s. 934.02(10), the Department 238
360	360	of Corrections, or the military or naval forces of the state or 239
361	361	of the United States for use in the discharge of their official 240
362	362	duties; nor does this section prohibit the possession or use of 241
363	363	assault weapons or large-capacity magazines by sworn members of 242
364	364	these agencies when on duty and the use is within the scope of 243
365	365	their duties. 244
366	366	(c) Paragraph (a) does not apply to the possession of an 245
367	367	assault weapon or a large -capacity magazine by a person before 246
368	368	July 1, 2025, if all of the following are applicable: 247
369	369	1. The person is eligible to apply for a certificate of 248
370	370	possession for the assault weapon or large -capacity magazine by 249
371	371	July 1, 2025. 250
372	372
373	373	HB 279 2024
374	374
375	375
376	376
377	377	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
378	378	hb0279-00
379	379	Page 11 of 21
380	380	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
381	381
382	382
383	383
384	384	2. The person lawfully possessed the assault weapon or 251
385	385	large-capacity magazine before October 1, 2024. 252
386	386	3. The person is otherwise in compliance with this section 253
387	387	and the applicable requirements of this chapter for possession 254
388	388	of a firearm. 255
389	389	(d) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a person who is the 256
390	390	executor of an estate that includes an assault weapon or a 257
391	391	large-capacity magazine for which a certificate of possession 258
392	392	has been issued under subsection (4), if the assault weapon is 259
393	393	possessed at a place set forth in subparagraph (4)(d)1. or as 260
394	394	authorized by the probate court. 261
395	395	(4) CERTIFICATE OF POSSESSION. — 262
396	396	(a) A person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon or a 263
397	397	large-capacity magazine before October 1, 2024, shall apply to 264
398	398	the Department of Law Enforcement for a certificate of 265
399	399	possession with respect to such assault weapon or large-capacity 266
400	400	magazine by October 1, 2025, or, if such person is a member of 267
401	401	the military or naval forces of the state or of the United 268
402	402	States and is unable to apply by October 1, 2025, because he or 269
403	403	she is or was on official duty outside of the state, shall apply 270
404	404	within 90 days after returning to the state. The certificate 271
405	405	must contain a description of the assault weapon or large -272
406	406	capacity magazine which identifies it uniquely, including all 273
407	407	identification marks; the full name, address, date of birth, a nd 274
408	408	thumbprint of the owner; and any other information as the 275
409	409
410	410	HB 279 2024
411	411
412	412
413	413
414	414	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
415	415	hb0279-00
416	416	Page 12 of 21
417	417	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
418	418
419	419
420	420
421	421	department may deem appropriate. The department shall adopt 276
422	422	rules no later than January 1, 2025, to establish procedures 277
423	423	with respect to the application for, and issuance of, 278
424	424	certificates of poss ession under this subsection. The thumbprint 279
425	425	of the applicant shall be taken by a law enforcement agency or 280
426	426	the Department of Law Enforcement together with any personal 281
427	427	identifying information required by federal law to process 282
428	428	fingerprints. Charges for th umbprint services under this 283
429	429	paragraph are not subject to the sales tax on fingerprint 284
430	430	services imposed in s. 212.05(1)(i). The Department of Law 285
431	431	Enforcement shall conduct a background investigation pursuant to 286
432	432	this subsection. 287
433	433	(b) A certificate of posse ssion issued under this 288
434	434	subsection must be in substantially the following form: 289
435	435	CERTIFICATE OF POSSESSION OF ASSAULT WEAPON 290
436	436	Certificate Number: 291
437	437	Owner's name: (last, first, middle) 292
438	438	Address: (number, street, city or town, state, zip 293
439	439	code) NO P.O. Boxes 294
440	440	Date of birth: 295
441	441	Social security number (optional, but will help 296
442	442	prevent misidentification): 297
443	443	Driver license number and state: 298
444	444	Manufacturer: importer: serial number: model: caliber: 299
445	445	unique i.d./markings: 300
446	446
447	447	HB 279 2024
448	448
449	449
450	450
451	451	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
452	452	hb0279-00
453	453	Page 13 of 21
454	454	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
455	455
456	456
457	457
458	458	Signature of owner 301
459	459	Applicant's right thumbprint 302
460	460	(c)1. An assault weapon or a large -capacity magazine 303
461	461	possessed under this section may not be sold or transferred on 304
462	462	or after January 1, 2025, to a person within the state other 305
463	463	than to a licensed dealer, as provided in subsection (5), or by 306
464	464	bequest or intestate succ ession. 307
465	465	2. A person who obtains title to an assault weapon or a 308
466	466	large-capacity magazine for which a certificate of possession 309
467	467	has been issued under this subsection by bequest or intestate 310
468	468	succession shall, within 90 days after obtaining title: 311
469	469	a. Apply to the Department of Law Enforcement for a 312
470	470	certificate of possession as provided in paragraph (a); 313
471	471	b. Render the assault weapon or large -capacity magazine 314
472	472	permanently inoperable; 315
473	473	c. Sell the weapon or large -capacity magazine to a 316
474	474	licensed dealer; or 317
475	475	d. Remove the weapon or large -capacity magazine from the 318
476	476	state. 319
477	477	3. A person who moves into the state in lawful possession 320
478	478	of an assault weapon or a large -capacity magazine shall, within 321
479	479	90 days after arriving in the state: 322
480	480	a. Render the weapon or lar ge-capacity magazine 323
481	481	permanently inoperable; 324
482	482	b. Sell the weapon or large -capacity magazine to a 325
483	483
484	484	HB 279 2024
485	485
486	486
487	487
488	488	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
489	489	hb0279-00
490	490	Page 14 of 21
491	491	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
492	492
493	493
494	494
495	495	licensed dealer; or 326
496	496	c. Remove the weapon or large -capacity magazine from the 327
497	497	state. 328
498	498	4. This paragraph does not apply to a person who is a 329
499	499	member of the military or naval forces of the state or of the 330
500	500	United States, is in lawful possession of an assault weapon or a 331
501	501	large-capacity magazine, and has been transferred into the state 332
502	502	after October 1, 2025. 333
503	503	(d) A person who has been issued a certificate of 334
504	504	possession for an assault weapon or a large -capacity magazine 335
505	505	under this section may possess the assault weapon or a large -336
506	506	capacity magazine only under the following conditions: 337
507	507	1. At that person's residence, place of business, or other 338
508	508	property owned by tha t person, or on property owned by another 339
509	509	person with the owner's express permission; 340
510	510	2. While on the premises of a target range of a public or 341
511	511	private club or organization organized for the purpose of 342
512	512	practicing shooting at targets; 343
513	513	3. While on a target range that holds a regulatory or 344
514	514	business license for the purpose of practicing shooting at that 345
515	515	target range; 346
516	516	4. While on the premises of a licensed shooting club; 347
517	517	5. While attending an exhibition, display, or educational 348
518	518	project that is about fire arms and is sponsored by, conducted 349
519	519	under the auspices of, or approved by a law enforcement agency 350
520	520
521	521	HB 279 2024
522	522
523	523
524	524
525	525	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
526	526	hb0279-00
527	527	Page 15 of 21
528	528	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
529	529
530	530
531	531
532	532	or a nationally or state -recognized entity that fosters 351
533	533	proficiency in, or promotes education about, firearms; or 352
534	534	6. While transporting the assault weapon or large-capacity 353
535	535	magazine between any of the places specified in this subsection, 354
536	536	or to a licensed dealer for servicing or repair pursuant to 355
537	537	paragraph (7)(b), provided the assault weapon or large -capacity 356
538	538	magazine is transported as required by subsection (7). 357
539	539	(e) If an applicant for a certificate of possession under 358
540	540	this subsection fails to qualify for such a certificate after 359
541	541	the investigation required under this subsection, the applicant 360
542	542	shall arrange to relinquish all assault weapons or large-361
543	543	capacity magazines in his or her possession as provided in 362
544	544	subsection (6) within 10 days after issuance of the notice of 363
545	545	qualification failure. Such an applicant who fails to make such 364
546	546	an arrangement within the time specified in this paragraph is in 365
547	547	violation of this section. 366
548	548	(5) CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER. —If an owner of an assault 367
549	549	weapon or a large-capacity magazine sells or transfers the 368
550	550	weapon or magazine to a licensed dealer, he or she shall, at the 369
551	551	time of delivery of the weapon, execute a certif icate of 370
552	552	transfer and mail or deliver the certificate to the Department 371
553	553	of Law Enforcement. The certificate shall contain: 372
554	554	(a) The date of sale or transfer. 373
555	555	(b) The name and address of the seller or transferor and 374
556	556	the licensed dealer and the social sec urity number or driver 375
557	557
558	558	HB 279 2024
559	559
560	560
561	561
562	562	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
563	563	hb0279-00
564	564	Page 16 of 21
565	565	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
566	566
567	567
568	568
569	569	license number of each party. 376
570	570	(c) The licensed dealer's federal firearms license number. 377
571	571	(d) A description of the weapon, including the caliber of 378
572	572	the weapon and its make, model, and serial number. 379
573	573	(e) Any other information the Department of Law 380
574	574	Enforcement prescribes. 381
575	575	382
576	576	The licensed dealer shall present his or her driver license or 383
577	577	social security card and federal firearms license to the seller 384
578	578	or transferor for inspection at the time of purchase or 385
579	579	transfer. The Department of L aw Enforcement shall maintain a 386
580	580	file of all certificates of transfer at its headquarters. 387
581	581	(6) RELINQUISHMENT. —An individual may arrange in advance 388
582	582	to relinquish an assault weapon or a large -capacity magazine to 389
583	583	a law enforcement agency as defined in s. 9 34.02(10) or to the 390
584	584	Department of Law Enforcement. The assault weapon or large -391
585	585	capacity magazine shall be transported in accordance with 392
586	586	subsection (7). 393
587	587	(7) TRANSPORTATION. — 394
588	588	(a) A licensed dealer who lawfully purchases for resale 395
589	589	out of state an assaul t weapon or a large-capacity magazine 396
590	590	under subsection (2) may transport the assault weapon or large -397
591	591	capacity magazine between dealers or out of the state, but a 398
592	592	person may not carry a loaded assault weapon concealed from 399
593	593	public view or knowingly have in a ny motor vehicle owned, 400
594	594
595	595	HB 279 2024
596	596
597	597
598	598
599	599	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
600	600	hb0279-00
601	601	Page 17 of 21
602	602	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
603	603
604	604
605	605
606	606	operated, or occupied by him or her a loaded assault weapon, a 401
607	607	large-capacity magazine, an unloaded assault weapon, or a large -402
608	608	capacity magazine unless such weapon or large -capacity magazine 403
609	609	is kept in the trunk of such vehicle or i n a case or other 404
610	610	container that is inaccessible to the operator of or any 405
611	611	passenger in such vehicle. A person who violates this subsection 406
612	612	commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as 407
613	613	provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A licensed dealer ma y 408
614	614	display the assault weapon or large -capacity magazine at a gun 409
615	615	show or sell it to a buyer outside the state. 410
616	616	(b) A licensed dealer may transfer possession of an 411
617	617	assault weapon or a large -capacity magazine received pursuant to 412
618	618	paragraph (a) to a gunsmit h for purposes of service or repair of 413
619	619	the assault weapon or large -capacity magazine. Transfers are 414
620	620	permissible only to the following persons: 415
621	621	1. A gunsmith who is in the dealer's employ; or 416
622	622	2. A gunsmith with whom the dealer has contracted for 417
623	623	gunsmithing services, provided the gunsmith receiving the 418
624	624	assault weapon holds a dealer's license issued pursuant to 419
625	625	chapter 44 of Title 18 of the United States Code, 18 U.S.C. ss. 420
626	626	921 et seq., and regulations issued pursuant thereto. 421
627	627	(8) CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH MANUFACTURE OR TRANSPORTATION 422
628	628	NOT PROHIBITED.—This section does not prohibit a person, firm, 423
629	629	or corporation engaged in the business of manufacturing assault 424
630	630	weapons or large-capacity magazines in the state from 425
631	631
632	632	HB 279 2024
633	633
634	634
635	635
636	636	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
637	637	hb0279-00
638	638	Page 18 of 21
639	639	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
640	640
641	641
642	642
643	643	manufacturing or transporting assault weapon s or large-capacity 426
644	644	magazines in the state for sale within the state under 427
645	645	subparagraph (2)(c)1. or for sale outside the state. 428
646	646	(9) EXCEPTION.—This section does not apply to a firearm 429
647	647	modified to render it permanently inoperable. 430
648	648	Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 431
649	649	775.087, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 432
650	650	775.087 Possession or use of weapon; aggravated battery; 433
651	651	felony reclassification; minimum sentence. — 434
652	652	(3)(a)1. Any person who is convicted of a felony or an 435
653	653	attempt to commit a felony, regardless of whether the use of a 436
654	654	firearm is an element of the felony, and the conviction was for: 437
655	655	a. Murder; 438
656	656	b. Sexual battery; 439
657	657	c. Robbery; 440
658	658	d. Burglary; 441
659	659	e. Arson; 442
660	660	f. Aggravated battery; 443
661	661	g. Kidnapping; 444
662	662	h. Escape; 445
663	663	i. Sale, manufacture, delivery, or intent to sell, 446
664	664	manufacture, or deliver any controlled substance; 447
665	665	j. Aircraft piracy; 448
666	666	k. Aggravated child abuse; 449
667	667	l. Aggravated abuse of an elderly person or disabled 450
668	668
669	669	HB 279 2024
670	670
671	671
672	672
673	673	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
674	674	hb0279-00
675	675	Page 19 of 21
676	676	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
677	677
678	678
679	679
680	680	adult; 451
681	681	m. Unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a 452
682	682	destructive device or bomb; 453
683	683	n. Carjacking; 454
684	684	o. Home-invasion robbery; 455
685	685	p. Aggravated stalking; 456
686	686	q. Trafficking in cannabis, trafficking in cocaine, 457
687	687	capital importation of cocaine, trafficking in illegal drugs, 458
688	688	capital importation of illegal drugs, tra fficking in 459
689	689	phencyclidine, capital importation of phencyclidine, trafficking 460
690	690	in methaqualone, capital importation of methaqualone, 461
691	691	trafficking in amphetamine, capital importation of amphetamine, 462
692	692	trafficking in flunitrazepam, trafficking in gamma -463
693	693	hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), trafficking in 1,4 -Butanediol, 464
694	694	trafficking in Phenethylamines, or other violation of s. 465
695	695	893.135(1); or 466
696	696	r. Human trafficking 467
697	697	468
698	698	and during the commission of the offense, such person possessed 469
699	699	a semiautomatic firearm and its high -capacity detachable box 470
700	700	magazine, an assault weapon or a large -capacity magazine as 471
701	701	those terms are defined in s. 790.301(1), or a machine gun as 472
702	702	defined in s. 790.001, shall be sentenced to a minimum term of 473
703	703	imprisonment of 15 years. 474
704	704	2. Any person who is convicted of a felony or an attempt 475
705	705
706	706	HB 279 2024
707	707
708	708
709	709
710	710	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
711	711	hb0279-00
712	712	Page 20 of 21
713	713	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
714	714
715	715
716	716
717	717	to commit a felony listed in subparagraph 1., regardless of 476
718	718	whether the use of a weapon is an element of the felony, and 477
719	719	during the course of the commission of the felony such person 478
720	720	discharged a semiautomatic firearm and its hig h-capacity box 479
721	721	magazine, an assault weapon or a large -capacity magazine as 480
722	722	those terms are defined in s. 790.301(1), or a "machine gun" as 481
723	723	defined in s. 790.001 shall be sentenced to a minimum term of 482
724	724	imprisonment of 20 years. 483
725	725	3. Any person who is convic ted of a felony or an attempt 484
726	726	to commit a felony listed in subparagraph 1., regardless of 485
727	727	whether the use of a weapon is an element of the felony, and 486
728	728	during the course of the commission of the felony such person 487
729	729	discharged a semiautomatic firearm and its high-capacity box 488
730	730	magazine, an assault weapon or a large -capacity magazine as 489
731	731	those terms are defined in s. 790.301(1), or a "machine gun" as 490
732	732	defined in s. 790.001 and, as the result of the discharge, death 491
733	733	or great bodily harm was inflicted upon any perso n, the 492
734	734	convicted person shall be sentenced to a minimum term of 493
735	735	imprisonment of not less than 25 years and not more than a term 494
736	736	of imprisonment of life in prison. 495
737	737	Section 3. If any provision of this act or its application 496
738	738	to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity 497
739	739	does not affect other provisions or applications of the act 498
740	740	which can be given effect without the invalid provision or 499
741	741	application, and to this end the provisions of this act are 500
742	742
743	743	HB 279 2024
744	744
745	745
746	746
747	747	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
748	748	hb0279-00
749	749	Page 21 of 21
750	750	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
751	751
752	752
753	753
754	754	severable. 501
755	755	Section 4. This act shall take effect October 1, 2024. 502