Nearly 3 dozen new Florida laws now in effect

TALLAHASSEE – Nearly three dozen new state laws went into effect on Tuesday, Oct. 1, including a contentious measure that limits where people experiencing homelessness can sleep.
Other measures include creating a license plate for Parrot Heads living the life of the late singer Jimmy Buffett and flood disclosure requirements for home buyers.
In all, 34 laws that passed during the 2024 legislative session are now in effect, with the homeless changes (HB 1365) drawing the most attention.
“Florida has chosen to reject comfortable inaction and tackle this problem head-on,” House bill sponsor Sam Garrison said in June after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of an Oregon city’s ordinance cracking down on public camping.
The new Florida law bars local governments from allowing people to sleep in places such as public buildings and in public rights of way. Local governments would be allowed to designate areas for homeless people to sleep.
Another part of the measure will give legal standing to residents and business owners to file civil lawsuits against local governments that allow sleeping or camping on public property. That part of the law will take effect Jan. 1.
Most bills passed during this year’s legislative session took effect July 1, including the budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Here are some of the other measures that went into effect on Oct. 1: