Florida 2024 Regular Session Status: In Committee 7 R cosponsors

HB 75 — Impeding, Threatening, or Harassing First Responders

Last action — Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see SB 184 (Ch. 2024-85)

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

This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Impeding, Threatening, or Harassing First Responders; Specifies that peaceful recording, photographing, or observation is not harassment; prohibits approaching first responder or remaining within specified distance of such person with intent to impede, threaten, or harass person from performing lawful duties after receiving warning not to approach.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

44 added · 46 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill HB 75 introduces clearer definitions and makes specific changes regarding the actions that can lead to harassment of first responders. It now states that approaching a first responder with the intent to impede or threaten them is prohibited after being warned not to do so, with criminal penalties for violations. This alteration reinforces the importance of protecting first responders while clarifying that peaceful recording or observation does not constitute harassment. By highlighting these distinctions, the bill aims to ensure respectful interaction with first responders while allowing citizens to exercise their rights.

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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 HB75 2024 A bill to be entitled An act relating to impeding, threatening, or harassing first responders;
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 CS/HB75 2024 A bill to be entitled An act relating to impeding, threatening, or harassing first responders;
specifying that peaceful recording or observation is not harassment;
specifying that peaceful recording, photographing, or observation is not harassment;
prohibiting approaching a first responder or remaining within a specified distance of such person with the intent to impede, threaten, or harass or physically prevent the person from performing lawful duties after receiving a warning not to approach;
prohibiting approaching a first responder or remaining within a specified distance of such person with the intent to impede, threaten, or harass the person after receiving a warning not to approach;
843.31 Approaching a first responder after a warning with the intent to impede, threaten, or harass or physically prevent the first responder from performing lawful duties.— (1) As used in this section, the term:
843.31 Approaching a first responder with specified intent after a warning.— (1) As used in this section, the term:
(b) "Harass" means to willfully engage in a course of Page 1of 2 CODING:
(b) "Harass" means to willfully engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that first responder and Page 1of 2 CODING:
hb0075-00 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 HB75 2024 conduct directed at a first responder which intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that first responder and serves no legitimate purpose.
hb0075-01-c1 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 CS/HB75 2024 serves no legitimate purpose.
The peaceful audio or video recording or eyewitness observing of a first responder is a legitimate purpose that does not constitute harassment.
The peaceful audio or video recording, photographing, or eyewitness observing of a first responder is a legitimate purpose that does not, by itself, constitute harassment.
(2)(a) It is unlawful for a person, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from a person he or she knows or reasonably should know is a first responder, who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to knowingly and willfully violate such warning and continue to approach or remain within 20 feet of the first responder with the intent to:
(2)(a) It is unlawful for a person, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from a person he or she knows or reasonably should know is a first responder, who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to knowingly and willfully violate such warning and approach or remain within 20 feet of the first responder with the intent to:
Threaten the first responder or physically prevent the first responder from performing his or her lawful duties;
Threaten the first responder with physical harm;
hb0075-00
hb0075-01-c1
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Action History

  1. Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see SB 184 (Ch. 2024-85)

  2. Added to Second Reading Calendar

  3. Bill released to House Calendar

  4. Reported out of Judiciary Committee

  5. Favorable by Judiciary Committee

  6. Added to Judiciary Committee agenda

  7. 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)

  8. 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  9. Now in Judiciary Committee

  10. Referred to Judiciary Committee

  11. Original reference removed: Justice Appropriations Subcommittee

  12. CS Filed

  13. Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)

  14. Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  15. Favorable with CS by Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  16. Added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda

  17. Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  18. Referred to Judiciary Committee

  19. Referred to Justice Appropriations Subcommittee

  20. Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  21. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 154 not signed on · 4 voted No

Sponsors (2)

  • Rizo, Alex Republican
  • Criminal Justice Subcommittee

Co-sponsors (8)

Not signed on (154)

154 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 154 →

"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

Favorable (Judiciary Committee)

Passed 17 Yea · 4 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 2000
Democrat 3401
Republican 12000
Total 17401
% of votes cast 77%18%0%5%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Altman — Yea
Payne — Yea
Arrington, Kristen Aston Democrat Yea
Bracy Davis, LaVon Democrat Nay
Chambliss, Kevin D. Democrat Not Voting
Gottlieb, Michael "Mike" Democrat Yea
Gregory, Emily Democrat Yea
Hart-Lowman, Dianne "Ms Dee" Democrat Nay
Hinson, Yvonne Hayes Democrat Nay
Joseph, Dotie Democrat Nay
Barnaby, Webster Republican Yea
Botana, Adam Republican Yea
Brannan III, Robert Charles "Chuck" Republican Yea
Chamberlin, Ryan Republican Yea
Giallombardo, Mike Republican Yea
Jacques, Berny Republican Yea
Maggard, Randall Scott "Randy" Republican Yea
Maney, Patt Republican Yea
Overdorf, Tobin Rogers "Toby" Republican Yea
Snyder, John Republican Yea
Stark, Paula A. Republican Yea
Truenow, Keith L. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Favorable With Committee Substitute (Criminal Justice Subcommittee)

Passed 17 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 13000
Democrat 2100
Unaffiliated 2000
Total 17100
% of votes cast 94%6%0%0%
How each member voted (18)
Member Party Vote
Casello — Yea
Silvers — Yea
Bracy Davis, LaVon Democrat Nay
Gottlieb, Michael "Mike" Democrat Yea
Rayner, Michele K. Democrat Yea
Abbott, Shane G. Republican Yea
Baker, Jessica Republican Yea
Barnaby, Webster Republican Yea
Brackett, Robert A. "Robbie" Republican Yea
Brannan III, Robert Charles "Chuck" Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Yea
Jacques, Berny Republican Yea
Michael, Kiyan Republican Yea
Plakon, Rachel Saunders Republican Yea
Stark, Paula A. Republican Yea
Truenow, Keith L. Republican Yea
Tuck, Kaylee Republican Yea
Yarkosky, Taylor Michael Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 75 do?
Impeding, Threatening, or Harassing First Responders; Specifies that peaceful recording, photographing, or observation is not harassment; prohibits approaching first responder or remaining within specified distance of such person with intent to impede, threaten, or harass person from performing lawful duties after receiving warning not to approach.
Who sponsors HB 75?
HB 75 is sponsored by Rizo, Alex (Republican), Alvarez, Daniel Antonio "Danny" (Republican), Benjamin, Fabricio, Tom (Republican), Garcia, Maggard, Randall Scott "Randy" (Republican), Porras, Juan Carlos (Republican), Criminal Justice Subcommittee, Truenow, Keith L. (Republican), and Yarkosky, Taylor Michael (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 75?
This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 75?
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