HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 1 of 22 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 criminal justice; creating s. 2 83.455, F.S.; defining the term "conditional offer"; 3 prohibiting a landlord from asking a prospective 4 tenant about a criminal record before making a 5 conditional offer; limiting offenses that may be 6 considered after such an offer is made; specifying 7 factors that may be considered before an offer may be 8 withdrawn; providing procedures for withdrawal of an 9 offer based on the rights of tenant; amending s. 10 98.0751, F.S.; removing full payment of financial 11 obligations from voting rights restoration 12 requirements; amending s. 940.05, F.S.; providing that 13 persons convicted of a felony shall have their rights 14 of citizenship automatically restored to the extent 15 that a federal elected official has such rights 16 automatically restored following a felony conviction; 17 creating s. 893.13501, F.S.; providing legislative 18 intent; providing for the retroactive applicability of 19 s. 893.135, F.S.; requiring the initial sentencing and 20 the resentencing of certain persons who committed 21 certain violations before a specified date which 22 involved trafficking in hydrocodone or codeine; 23 providing criminal penalties for such violations that 24 are subject to an initial sentencing or a 25 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 2 of 22 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 resentencing; providing legislative intent; providing 26 for the retroactive applicability of s. 893.135, F.S.; 27 requiring the initial sentencing and the resentencing 28 of certain persons who committed certain violations 29 before a specified date which involved trafficking in 30 oxycodone; providing criminal penalties for such 31 violations that are subject to an initial sentencing 32 or a resentencing; specifying procedures for such 33 resentencing; amending s. 921.1402, F.S.; revising the 34 definition of the term "juvenile offender" for 35 purposes of review of sentences of review of juvenile 36 sentences; providing for treatment of concurrent and 37 consecutive sentences; providing for retroactive 38 effect; creating s. 944.1915, F.S.; defining the term 39 "last known place of residence"; requiring the 40 Department of Corrections to provide specified data 41 concerning inmates to the Legislature for 42 redistricting purposes; providing requirements for 43 such data; specifying how such data shall be used in 44 redistricting; amending s. 960.293, F.S.; removing 45 provisions making inmates liable for correctional 46 costs in a specified liquidated damage amount for 47 incarceration; removing provisions specifying a fixed 48 daily amount for an offender's liability for 49 incarceration costs and other correctional costs for 50 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 3 of 22 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 offenders convicted of certain offenses; amending s. 51 985.557, F.S.; revising the offenses for which a 52 juvenile may be direct filed in adult court; requiring 53 a judicial finding for discretionary direct file of 54 juveniles; providing requirements for juveniles of 55 specified ages; providing requirements for judicial 56 findings; providing for return of juveniles to the 57 juvenile division at any point during circuit court 58 proceedings; providing an effective date. 59 60 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 61 62 Section 1. Section 83.455, Florida Statutes, is crea ted to 63 read: 64 83.455 Criminal record of tenants; inquiries limited; 65 withdrawal of conditional offer. — 66 (1) As used in this section, the term "conditional offer" 67 means an offer to rent or lease a rental dwelling unit to an 68 applicant that is contingent on a subsequent inquiry into the 69 applicant's criminal record, or any other eligibility criteria 70 that the landlord may lawfully use. 71 (2) A landlord may not require an applicant to complete a 72 housing application that includes any inquiries regarding an 73 applicant's criminal record before the provision of a 74 conditional offer, except that a landlord may consider whether 75 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 4 of 22 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 an applicant has ever been convicted of drug -related criminal 76 activity for the manufacture or production of methamphetamine on 77 the premises of federally assisted housing, and whether the 78 applicant has ever been convicted of a felony offense. 79 (3) A landlord shall not make any oral or written inquiry 80 regarding an applicant's criminal record before making a 81 conditional offer. 82 (4) An applicant may provide evidence to the landlord 83 demonstrating inaccuracies within the applicant's criminal 84 record or evidence of rehabilitation or other mitigating 85 factors. 86 (5) Before accepting any application fee, a landlord shall 87 disclose in writing to the applicant: 88 (a) Whether the eligibility criteria of the landlord 89 includes the review and consideration of criminal history. 90 (b) A statement that the applicant, pursuant to subsection 91 (4), may provide evidence demonstrating inaccuracies within the 92 applicant's criminal record or evidence of rehabilitation or 93 other mitigating factors. 94 (6) A landlord shall apply the standards established by 95 this section to each applicant in a nondiscriminatory manner. 96 (7) A landlord shall not, either before or after the 97 issuance of a conditional offer, evaluate an applicant based on 98 any of the following types of criminal records: 99 (a) Arrests or charges that have not resulted in a 100 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 5 of 22 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 criminal conviction; 101 (b) Expunged convictions; 102 (c) Convictions on appeal; 103 (d) Vacated and otherwise legally nullified convictions; 104 (e) Juvenile adjudications of delinquency; 105 (f) Records that have been sealed; or 106 (g) Criminal convictions arising from conduct committed 107 outside of this state that, if committed within this state would 108 not constitute a felony. 109 (8) After the issuance of a conditional offer to an 110 applicant, a landlord may only consider a criminal record in the 111 applicant's history that consists of a felony. 112 (9) A landlord may withdraw a conditional offer based on 113 an applicant's criminal record only if the landlord determines, 114 by preponderance of the evidence, that the withdrawal is 115 necessary to fulfill a substantial, legitimate, and 116 nondiscriminatory interest. 117 (10) If a landlord withdraws a conditional offer, the 118 landlord shall provide the applicant with written notification 119 that includes, with specificity, the reason or reasons for the 120 withdrawal of the conditional offer and an opportunity to appeal 121 the denial by providing evidence to the landlord demonstrating 122 inaccuracies within the applicant's criminal record or evidence 123 of rehabilitation or other mitigating factors. The landlord 124 shall perform an individualized assessment of the application in 125 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 6 of 22 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 light of the following factors: 126 (a) The nature and severity of the criminal of fense. 127 (b) The age of the applicant at the time of the occurrence 128 of the criminal offense. 129 (c) The time which has elapsed since the occurrence of the 130 criminal offense. 131 (d) Any information produced by the applicant, or produced 132 on the applicant's beha lf, in regard to the applicant's 133 rehabilitation and good conduct since the occurrence of the 134 criminal offense. 135 (e) The degree to which the criminal offense, if it 136 reoccurred, would negatively impact the safety of the landlord's 137 other tenants or property. 138 (f) Whether the criminal offense occurred on or was 139 connected to property that was rented or leased by the 140 applicant. 141 (11)(a) The applicant may request, within 30 days after 142 the landlord's notice of the withdrawal, that the landlord 143 afford the applicant a copy of all information that the landlord 144 relied upon in considering the applicant, including criminal 145 records. 146 (b) A landlord shall provide the information requested 147 under paragraph (a), free of charge, within l0 days after 148 receipt of a timely requ est. 149 Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 98.0751, Florida 150 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 7 of 22 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 Statutes, is amended to read: 151 98.0751 Restoration of voting rights; termination of 152 ineligibility subsequent to a felony conviction. — 153 (1) A person who has been disqualified from voting based 154 on a felony conviction for an offense other than murder or a 155 felony sexual offense must have such disqualification terminated 156 and his or her voting rights restored pursuant to s. 4, Art. VI 157 of the State Constitution upon the completion of all terms of 158 his or her sentence except for subparagraph (2)(a)5. , including 159 parole or probation. The voting disqualification does not 160 terminate unless a person's civil rights are restored pursuant 161 to s. 8, Art. IV of the State Constitution if the 162 disqualification arises from a felony conviction of murder or a 163 felony sexual offense, or if the person has not completed all 164 terms of sentence, as specified in subsection (2). 165 Section 3. Section 940.05, Florida Statutes, is amended to 166 read: 167 940.05 Restoration of civil righ ts.— 168 (1) Any person who has been convicted of a felony may be 169 entitled to the restoration of all the rights of citizenship 170 enjoyed by him or her before conviction if the person has: 171 (a)(1) Received a full pardon from the Board of Executive 172 Clemency; 173 (b)(2) Served the maximum term of the sentence imposed 174 upon him or her; or 175 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 8 of 22 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 (c)(3) Been granted his or her final release by the 176 Florida Commission on Offender Review. 177 (2) Subsection (1) notwithstanding, a person convicted of 178 a felony shall have his or her rights of citizenship restored 179 automatically to the extent that any federal elected official or 180 former federal elected official has his or her rights of 181 citizenship restored automatically following a felony 182 conviction. 183 Section 4. Section 893.13501, Florida Statutes, is created 184 to read: 185 893.13501 Retroactive application relating to s. 893.135; 186 legislative intent; sentencing or resentencing for trafficking 187 in hydrocodone, codeine, or oxycodone; penalties; resentencing 188 procedures.— 189 (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to retroactively 190 apply changes to gram -weight thresholds and ranges and to 191 penalties for trafficking in hydrocodone or codeine which are 192 applicable to offenders who committed these offenses on or after 193 October 1, 2019, the effective date of amendments to s. 893.135 194 by chapter 2019-167, Laws of Florida. 195 (a) If a violation of s. 893.135(1)(c) involving 196 trafficking in hydrocodone, as described in s. 893.03(2)(a)1.k.; 197 trafficking in codeine, as described in s. 893.03(2)(a)1.g.; or 198 trafficking in any salt of hydrocodone or of codeine or any 199 mixture containing any such substance, as described in s. 200 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 9 of 22 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 893.03(2)(a)2., was committed before October 1, 2019, and was 201 punishable as a felony of the first degree at the time the 202 violation was committed, the changes must be retroactively 203 applied as provided in this subsect ion. 204 (b) A person who committed a trafficking violation 205 described in paragraph (a) before October 1, 2019, but who was 206 not sentenced for such violation before July 1, 2025, must be 207 sentenced as provided in paragraph (d). 208 (c) A person who committed a tr afficking violation 209 described in paragraph (a) before October 1, 2019, and who is 210 serving a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for such 211 violation on or after July 1, 2025, must be resentenced as 212 provided in paragraph (d) and in accordance with subsecti on (3). 213 (d)1. A violation described in paragraph (a) for which the 214 person is to be sentenced or resentenced pursuant to this 215 subsection is a felony of the first degree, punishable as 216 provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 217 2. If the quantity of hydrocodone, as described in s. 218 893.03(2)(a)1.k., codeine, as described in s. 893.03(2)(a)1.g., 219 any salt thereof, or any mixture containing any such substance 220 involved in the violation of s. 893.135: 221 a. Was 4 grams or more, but less than 28 grams, su ch 222 person must be sentenced or resentenced as provided in s. 223 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 224 b. Was 28 grams or more, but less than 50 grams, such 225 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 10 of 22 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 person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 226 term of imprisonment of 3 years and orde red to pay a fine of 227 $50,000. 228 c. Was 50 grams or more, but less than 100 grams, such 229 person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 230 term of imprisonment of 7 years and ordered to pay a fine of 231 $100,000. 232 d. Was 100 grams or more, but les s than 300 grams, such 233 person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 234 term of imprisonment of 15 years and ordered to pay a fine of 235 $500,000. 236 e. Was 300 grams or more, but less than 30 kilograms, such 237 person must be sentenced or resentenc ed to a mandatory minimum 238 term of imprisonment of 25 years and ordered to pay a fine of 239 $500,000 if the trafficking involves hydrocodone, any salt 240 thereof, or any mixture containing hydrocodone; or to pay a fine 241 of $750,000 if the trafficking involves code ine, any salt 242 thereof, or any mixture containing codeine. 243 (2) It is the intent of the Legislature to retroactively 244 apply the changes to gram -weight thresholds and ranges and to 245 penalties for trafficking in oxycodone which are applicable to 246 offenders who committed this offense on or after July 1, 2014, 247 the effective date of amendments to s. 893.135 by chapter 2014 -248 176, Laws of Florida. 249 (a) If a violation of s. 893.135(1)(c) involving 250 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 11 of 22 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 trafficking in oxycodone, as described in s. 893.03(2)(a)1.q., 251 any salt thereof, or any mixture containing any such substance 252 was committed before July 1, 2014, and was punishable as a 253 felony of the first degree at the time the violation was 254 committed, the changes must be retroactively applied as provided 255 in this subsection. 256 (b) A person who committed a trafficking violation 257 described in paragraph (a) before July 1, 2014, but who was not 258 sentenced for such violation before July 1, 2025, must be 259 sentenced as provided in paragraph (d). 260 (c) A person who committed a traffickin g violation 261 described in paragraph (a) before July 1, 2014, and who is 262 serving a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for such 263 violation on or after July 1, 2025, must be resentenced as 264 provided in paragraph (d) and in accordance with subsection (3). 265 (d)1. A violation described in paragraph (a) for which the 266 person is to be sentenced or resentenced pursuant to this 267 subsection is a felony of the first degree, punishable as 268 provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 269 2. If the quantity of oxycodo ne, as described in s. 270 893.03(2)(a)1.q., any salt thereof, or any mixture containing 271 any such substance involved in the violation of s. 893.135: 272 a. Was 4 grams or more, but less than 7 grams, such person 273 must be sentenced or resentenced as provided in s. 775.082, s. 274 775.083, or s. 775.084. 275 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 12 of 22 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 b. Was 7 grams or more, but less than 14 grams, such 276 person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 277 term of imprisonment of 3 years and ordered to pay a fine of 278 $50,000. 279 c. Was 14 grams or more, but less than 25 grams, such 280 person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 281 term of imprisonment of 7 years and ordered to pay a fine of 282 $100,000. 283 d. Was 25 grams or more, but less than 100 grams, such 284 person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 285 term of imprisonment of 15 years and ordered to pay a fine of 286 $500,000. 287 e. Was 100 grams or more, but less than 30 kilograms, such 288 person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 289 term of imprisonment of 25 years and ordered to pay a fine of 290 $500,000. 291 (3) Resentencing under this section must occur in the 292 following manner: 293 (a) The Department of Corrections shall notify the person 294 described in paragraph (1)(c) or paragraph (2)(c) of his or her 295 eligibility to request a sentence review hearing. 296 (b) The person seeking sentence review under this section 297 may submit an application to the court of original jurisdiction 298 requesting that a sentence review hearing be held. The 299 sentencing court retains original jurisdiction for the duration 300 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 13 of 22 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 of the sentence for this purpose. 301 (c) A person eligible for a sentence review hearing under 302 this section is entitled to be represented by counsel, and the 303 court must appoint a public defender to represent the person if 304 he or she cannot affo rd an attorney. 305 (d) Upon receiving an application from the eligible 306 person, the court of original sentencing jurisdiction shall hold 307 a sentence review hearing to determine if the eligible person 308 meets the criteria for resentencing under this section. If the 309 court determines at the sentence review hearing that the 310 eligible person meets the criteria in this section for 311 resentencing, the court must resentence the person as provided 312 in this section; however, the new sentence may not exceed the 313 person's original sentence with credit for time served. If the 314 court determines that such person does not meet the criteria for 315 resentencing under this section, the court must provide written 316 reasons why such person does not meet such criteria. 317 Section 5. Subsection (1) of section 921.1402, Florida 318 Statutes, is amended and subsections (8) and (9) are added to 319 that section, to read: 320 921.1402 Review of sentences for persons convicted of 321 specified offenses committed while under the age of 18 years. — 322 (1) For purposes of this section, the term "juvenile 323 offender" means a person sentenced to imprisonment in the 324 custody of the Department of Corrections for an offense 325 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 14 of 22 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 committed on or after July 1, 2014, and committed before he or 326 she attained 18 years of age. 327 (8) Concurrent and consecutive sentences shall be treated 328 as a single sentence. 329 (9) It is the intent of the legislature that this statute 330 be applied retroactively to all juvenile offenders. 331 Section 6. Section 944.1915, Florida Statutes, is created 332 to read: 333 944.1915 Prisoner data for redistricting purposes; duties 334 of department.— 335 (1) As used in this section, the term "last known place of 336 residence" means the most recent residential address of an 337 inmate before the inmate's most current term of incarcera tion 338 that is sufficiently specific to be assigned to a census block, 339 as determined from information furnished by the department in 340 accordance with this section. In the case of an inmate for whom 341 residential address information is available but is not 342 sufficiently specific to allow the address to be assigned to a 343 census block, the "last known place of residence" means a 344 randomly determined census block located within the smallest 345 geographical area that can be identified based on the 346 residential address infor mation furnished by the department. 347 (2) Beginning in 2030 and in each year ending in the 348 number zero thereafter, the department shall furnish to the 349 Legislature, in the form of a single electronic file for each 350 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 15 of 22 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 database maintained by the department, information regarding 351 each inmate incarcerated in a state correctional facility on the 352 decennial Census Day. This information shall be furnished not 353 sooner than the decennial Census Day and not later than 90 days 354 after the decennial Census Day. 355 (3) The information furnished by the department under 356 subsection (2) shall include the following for each inmate: 357 (a) A unique identifier, other than the inmate's name or 358 department number. 359 (b) Any information maintained by the department about the 360 residential address or addresses at which the inmate was 361 domiciled before the inmate's most current term of 362 incarceration, including any available information about the 363 date on which each address was added to records maintained by 364 the department. If the department doe s not have any residential 365 address information for an inmate, the information furnished by 366 the department shall state that fact. 367 (c) The inmate's ethnicity, as identified by the inmate, 368 and the inmate's race, to the extent such information is 369 maintained by the department. 370 (d) The address of the correctional facility where the 371 inmate is incarcerated on the decennial Census Day. 372 (4) The department shall exclude all inmates in federal 373 custody in a facility within this state from the information 374 furnished pursuant to this section. 375 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 16 of 22 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 (5) In order to comply with its obligation to ensure that 376 a complete and accurate computerized database is available for 377 redistricting, the Legislature shall ensure that the information 378 provided by the department is included in computerized 379 redistricting database. 380 (6) The Legislature shall deem each incarcerated person as 381 residing at that person's last known place of residence, rather 382 than at the institution of that person's incarceration, and 383 shall use the information furnish ed to it pursuant to this 384 section in carrying out its redistricting responsibilities under 385 the state constitution. The Legislature, when it uses 386 information regarding inmates that is furnished pursuant to this 387 section, shall: 388 (a) Deem an inmate incarcera ted in a state correctional 389 facility for whom the last known place of residence is either 390 outside this state or cannot be determined to reside at an 391 unknown geographical location in the state and exclude the 392 inmate from the population count for any distric t or precinct. 393 (b) Adjust race and ethnicity data in districts and 394 precincts that contain prisons in a manner that reflects 395 reductions in the local population as inmates are included in 396 the population count of the district or precinct of their last 397 known place of residence and, to the extent practicable, those 398 deemed to reside at an unknown geographic location. 399 Section 7. Subsection (2) of section 960.293, Florida 400 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 17 of 22 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 Statutes, is amended to read: 401 960.293 Determination of damages and losses. — 402 (2) Upon conviction, a convicted offender is liable to the 403 state and its local subdivisions for damages and losses for 404 incarceration costs and other correctional costs. 405 (a) if the conviction is for a capital or life felony, the 406 convicted offender is liable for i ncarceration costs and other 407 correctional costs in the liquidated damage amount of $250,000. 408 (b) If the conviction is for an offense other than a 409 capital or life felony, a liquidated damage amount of $50 per 410 day of the convicted offender's sentence shall be assessed 411 against the convicted offender and in favor of the state or its 412 local subdivisions. Damages shall be based upon the length of 413 the sentence imposed by the court at the time of sentencing. 414 Section 8. Section 985.557, Florida Statutes, is ame nded 415 to read: 416 985.557 Direct filing of an information; discretionary 417 criteria.— 418 (1) DISCRETIONARY DIRECT FILE. — 419 (a) With respect to any child who was 14 or 15 years of 420 age at the time the alleged offense was committed, the state 421 attorney may file an information after a juvenile court judge 422 makes a finding pursuant to subsection (2) that when in the 423 state attorney's judgment and discretion the public interest 424 requires that adult sanctions be considered or imposed and when 425 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 18 of 22 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 the offense charged is for the commission of, attempt to commit, 426 or conspiracy to commit a felony designated as a life felony. : 427 1. Arson; 428 2. Sexual battery; 429 3. Robbery; 430 4. Kidnapping; 431 5. Aggravated child abuse; 432 6. Aggravated assault; 433 7. Aggravated stalking; 434 8. Murder; 435 9. Manslaughter; 436 10. Unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a 437 destructive device or bomb; 438 11. Armed burglary in violation of s. 810.02(2)(b) or 439 specified burglary of a dwelling or structure in violation of s. 440 810.02(2)(c), or burglary with an a ssault or battery in 441 violation of s. 810.02(2)(a); 442 12. Aggravated battery; 443 13. Any lewd or lascivious offense committed upon or in 444 the presence of a person less than 16 years of age; 445 14. Carrying, displaying, using, threatening, or 446 attempting to use a weapon or firearm during the commission of a 447 felony; 448 15. Grand theft in violation of s. 812.014(2)(a); 449 16. Possessing or discharging any weapon or firearm on 450 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 19 of 22 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 school property in violation of s. 790.115; 451 17. Home invasion robbery; 452 18. Carjacking; or 453 19. Grand theft of a motor vehicle in violation of s. 454 812.014(2)(c)6. or grand theft of a motor vehicle valued at 455 $20,000 or more in violation of s. 812.014(2)(b) if the child 456 has a previous adjudication for grand theft of a motor vehicle 457 in violation of s. 812.014(2)(c)6. or s. 812.014(2)(b). 458 (b) With respect to any child who was 14 or 15 years of 459 age at the time the alleged offense was committed, and who has 460 two prior juvenile adjudications or adjudications withheld, and 461 at least one of which was fo r a felony offense, the state 462 attorney may file an information after a juvenile court judge 463 makes a finding pursuant to subsection (2) that the public 464 interest requires that adult sanctions be considered or imposed 465 and when the offense charged is for the c ommission of, attempt 466 to commit, or conspiracy to commit a felony designated as a 467 first degree punishable by life. 468 (c)(b) With respect to any child who was 16 or 17 years of 469 age at the time the alleged offense was committed, the state 470 attorney may file an information after a juvenile court judge 471 makes a finding pursuant to subsection (2) that when in the 472 state attorney's judgment and discretion the public interest 473 requires that adult sanctions be considered or imposed and when 474 the offense charged is for the commission of, attempt to commit, 475 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 20 of 22 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 or conspiracy to commit a felony designated as a first degree 476 felony, first degree felony punishable by life, or a life 477 felony. However, the state attorney may not file an informatio n 478 on a child charged with a misdemeanor, unless the child has had 479 at least two previous adjudications or adjudications withheld 480 for delinquent acts, one of which involved an offense classified 481 as a felony under state law. 482 (2) JUDICIAL FINDINGS. —Before the state attorney may file 483 an information against a child as provided in subsection (1), a 484 juvenile court judge must make a written finding that the public 485 interest requires that adult sanctions be considered or imposed. 486 In making this finding, the juvenile court judge shall consider 487 any factor it deems appropriate, including all of the following: 488 (a) The juvenile's prior delinquency history, including 489 the nature and frequency of past offenses. 490 (b) The juvenile's cognitive development, emotional 491 maturity, and any mental health issues. 492 (c) An assessment of whether the juvenile is likely to 493 benefit from rehabilitative services within the juvenile justice 494 system. 495 (d) Whether the juvenile justice system has adequate 496 resources and programs to address the j uvenile's needs. 497 (e) The specific facts of the case, including the 498 juvenile's role in the offense, the presence of any adult co -499 defendants, and any mitigating circumstances. 500 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 21 of 22 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 (f) The effect of the offense on the victim and the 501 community. 502 (g) Any evaluations and recommendation from a 503 psychologist, social worker, or other relevant expert regarding 504 the juvenile's potential for rehabilitation. 505 (h) The juvenile's home environment, including support 506 systems, family stability, and socio -economic factors. 507 (i) The likelihood that the juvenile will reoffend if not 508 subject to adult sanctions 509 (3)(2) EFFECT OF DIRECT FILE. — 510 (a) Once a child has been transferred for criminal 511 prosecution pursuant to an information and has been found to 512 have committed the prese nting offense or a lesser included 513 offense, the child shall be handled thereafter in every respect 514 as if an adult for any subsequent violation of state law, unless 515 the court imposes juvenile sanctions under s. 985.565. 516 (b) When a child is transferred for criminal prosecution 517 as an adult, the court shall immediately transfer and certify to 518 the adult circuit court all felony cases pertaining to the 519 child, for prosecution of the child as an adult, which have not 520 yet resulted in a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or in which 521 a finding of guilt has not been made. If a child is acquitted of 522 all charged offenses or lesser included offenses contained in 523 the original case transferred to adult court, all felony cases 524 that were transferred to adult court as a result of this 525 HB 1521 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1521-00 Page 22 of 22 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 paragraph shall be subject to the same penalties to which such 526 cases would have been subject before being transferred to adult 527 court. 528 (c) When a child has been transferred for criminal 529 prosecution as an adult and has been found to have committed a 530 violation of state law, the disposition of the case may be made 531 under s. 985.565 and may include the enforcement of any 532 restitution ordered in any juvenile proceeding. 533 (4)(3) INFORMATION.—An information filed pursua nt to this 534 section may include all charges that are based on the same act, 535 criminal episode, or transaction as the primary offenses. 536 (5) RETURN OF JUVENILE TO JUVENILE DIVISION. —If at any 537 time during the circuit court proceedings, a circuit judge 538 believes that a juvenile offender is not fit for adult 539 sanctions, the circuit court judge can return the juvenile to 540 the juvenile division for resolution of the case. The circuit 541 court judge must file a written order articulating his reason 542 for believing that the juvenile is not fit for adult sanctions. 543 Section 9. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 544