Florida 2026 Session Status: Introduced 1 R cosponsors

SB 536 — Criteria for Determining Criminal Gang Membership

Last action — Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 429 (Ch. 2026-156)

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced November 17, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 28% · moderate confidence

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 4 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Criteria for Determining Criminal Gang Membership; Revising the definition of the term “criminal gang member”; defining the term “gang-related language”, etc.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

100 added · 105 removed

100 line(s) added, 105 removed.

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 536 By the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 536 By the Committee on Criminal Justice;
the Committee on Criminal Justice;
and Senator Martin 591-01886-26 2026536c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to criminal gang members;
and Senator Martin 604-03221-26 2026536c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to criteria for determining criminal gang membership;
revising the definition of the term “criminal gang member”;
revising the definition of the term “criminal gang member”;
823.05(2)(a), 921.141(6)(n), and 951.23(11), F.S., all relating to the definition of the term “criminal gang member,” to incorporate the amendment made to s.
823.05(2)(a), 921.141(6)(n), and 951.23(11), F.S., all relating to the definition of the term “criminal gang member”, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
Present subsections (6), (7), and (8) of section 874.03, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (7), (8), and (9), respectively, a new subsection (6) is added to that section, and subsection (3) of that section is amended, to read:
Subsection (3) of section 874.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
(3) “Criminal gang member” means is a person who meets two or more of the following criteria:
(3) “Gang-related language” is any verbal or written statement that signals gang affiliation, supports gang activity, or uses recognized gang codes, symbols, or terminology associated with criminal organizations.
Written statements include any digital or electronic statements, including statements made on any online platform or social media.
(4) “Criminal gang member” means is a person who meets two or more of the following criteria:
(d)(c) Is identified as a criminal gang member by a documented reliable informant.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 536 604-03221-26 2026536c2 (e)(d) Adopts the style of dress of a criminal gang.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 536 591-01886-26 2026536c1 (d)(c) Is identified as a criminal gang member by a documented reliable informant.
(e)(d) Adopts the style of dress of a criminal gang.
(m) Uses gang-related language in furtherance of criminal gang-related activity on an online platform or social media.
(m) Uses gang-related language on an online platform or social media.
(6) “Gang-related language” means any verbal or written statement that signals gang affiliation, supports gang activity, Page 2 of 4 CODING:
Page 2 of 4 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 536 604-03221-26 2026536c2 or uses recognized gang codes, symbols, or terminology associated with criminal organizations.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 536 591-01886-26 2026536c1 Section 2.
Written statements include any digital or electronic statements, including statements made on any online platform or social media.
Section 2.
Page 3 of 4 CODING:
definitions;
administration;
standards and requirements.— (11) GANG STATUS OF INMATES.—A county or municipal detention facility may designate an individual to be responsible for assessing whether each current inmate is a criminal gang Page 3 of 4 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 536 604-03221-26 2026536c2 definitions;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 536 591-01886-26 2026536c1 member or associate using the criteria in s.
administration;
standards and requirements.— (11) GANG STATUS OF INMATES.—A county or municipal detention facility may designate an individual to be responsible for assessing whether each current inmate is a criminal gang member or associate using the criteria in s.
This act shall take effect October 1, 2026.
This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
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Action History

  1. Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 429 (Ch. 2026-156) -SJ 742

  2. Substituted CS/HB 429 -SJ 742

  3. Read 2nd time -SJ 742

  4. Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/10/26

  5. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

  6. Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 12 NAYS 6

  7. CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice read 1st time

  8. On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 03/02/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building

  9. Now in Fiscal Policy

  10. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  11. CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; YEAS 5 NAYS 3

  12. On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice, 02/25/26, 1:30 pm, 37 Senate Building

  13. Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

  14. CS by Criminal Justice read 1st time

  15. Introduced

  16. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  17. CS by Criminal Justice; YEAS 6 NAYS 2

  18. On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 01/12/26, 1:30 pm, 37 Senate Building

  19. Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; Fiscal Policy

  20. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 163 not signed on · 3 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (163)

163 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 163 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 536 do?
Criteria for Determining Criminal Gang Membership; Revising the definition of the term “criminal gang member”; defining the term “gang-related language”, etc.
Who sponsors SB 536?
SB 536 is sponsored by Martin, Jonathan (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 536?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced November 17, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 536?
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