HB 781 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb781-00
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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
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to cyberintimidation by publication; 2
amending s. 836.115, F.S.; deleting the requirement 3
that a person be placed in reasonable fear of bodily 4
harm for a threat to fall within the statute; 5
increasing the criminal penalty for violation; 6
authorizing a civil action for violation; providing a 7
clear and convincing standard of proof for plaintiffs 8
in such actions; providing an effective date. 9
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11
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Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 836.115, Florida 13
Statutes, is amended, and subsection (3) is added to that 14
section, to read: 15
836.115 Cyberintimidation by publication. — 16
(2) It is unlawful f or a person to electronically publish 17
another person's personal identification information with the 18
intent to, or with the intent that a third party will use the 19
information to: 20
(a) Incite violence or commit a crime against the person; 21
or 22
(b) Threaten or harass the person , placing such person in 23
reasonable fear of bodily harm . 24
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HB 781 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb781-00
Page 2 of 2
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
A person who violates this subsection commits a felony 26
misdemeanor of the third a first degree, punishable as provided 27
in s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 28
(3) A person whose personal identification information was 29
electronically published in violation of subsection (2) may 30
bring a civil action against the perpetrator to obtain all 31
appropriate relief in order to prevent or remedy the violation, 32
including injunctive relie f, monetary damages, reasonable 33
attorney fees and costs, or any other appropriate relief in law 34
or in equity. To prevail in a civil action, an aggrieved person 35
must establish a violation of subsection (2) by clear and 36
convincing evidence. 37
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 38