HB 255 — Aggravated Animal Cruelty
Last action — Chapter No. 2025-102
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 27, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Ron DeSantis (Republican) on May 28, 2025.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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14 sponsors
3 primary, 11 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (12 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 3 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
Aggravated Animal Cruelty; Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to post on its website the names of certain individuals who have violated specified animal cruelty provisions; provides a sentencing multiplier for specified offenses of aggravated animal cruelty.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
226 added · 238 removed226 line(s) added, 238 removed.
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/HB 2,255 Engrossed 1 2025 A bill to be entitled An act relating to aggravated animal cruelty;
828.12, F.S.;
requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to post on its website the names of certain individuals who have violated specified animal cruelty provisions;
amending s.
8 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
Subsection (7) is added to section 828.12, Florida Statutes, to read:
828.12 Cruelty to animals.— (7) Beginning January 1, 2026, the Department of Law Enforcement shall post on its website, in a searchable format prescribed by the department, the names of those individuals who have been convicted of, or who have entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a violation of this section.
Section 3.
scoresheets.— (1)(a) The Criminal Punishment Code worksheet is used to compute the subtotal and total sentence points as follows:
FLORIDA CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT CODE WORKSHEET OFFENSE SCORE Primary Offense Level Sentence Points Total 10 116 = ........
hb255hb255-01-c1 -02-e1 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/HB 2,255 Engrossed 1 2025 scoresheets.—9 (1)(a)92 The= Criminal........ Punishment Code worksheet is used to compute the subtotal and total sentence points as follows:
FLORIDA CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT CODE WORKSHEET OFFENSE SCORE Primary Offense Level Sentence Points Total 10 116 = ........
9 92 = ........
Page3 216 of= 13........ CODING:
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hb255 -02-e1 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/HB 2, Engrossed 1 2025 16 = ........
Total Additional Offenses LevelPage Sentence2 Countsof Total13 PointsCODING: 10 58 x ....
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words underlined are additions.
hb255-01-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/HB 255 2025 Level Sentence Counts Total Points 10 58 x ....
Page5 35.4 ofx 13.... CODING:
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hb255 -02-e1 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/HB 2, Engrossed 1 2025 5 5.4 x ....
TotalPage Victim3 Injuryof Level13 SentenceCODING: Number Total Points 2nd degree murder- 240 x ....
= ....
Page 4 of 13 CODING:
hb255hb255-01-c1 -02-e1 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/HB 2,255 Engrossed2025 1Total 2025Victim deathInjury DeathLevel 120Sentence Number Total Points 2nd degree murder- death 240 x ....
Death 120 x ....
= ....
SexualPage contact4 40of x13 ....CODING:
= ....
Total Primary Offense + Additional Offenses + Victim Injury = TOTAL OFFENSE SCORE PRIOR RECORD SCORE Prior Record Page 5 of 13 CODING:
hb255hb255-01-c1 -02-e1 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/HB 2,255 Engrossed 1 2025 LevelSexual Sentencecontact Number40 Total Points 10 29 x ....
Total Primary Offense + Additional Offenses + Victim Injury = TOTAL OFFENSE SCORE PRIOR RECORD SCORE Prior Record Level Sentence Number Total Points 10 29 x ....
= ....
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hb255-01-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/HB 255 2025 9 x ....
PageTotal 6TOTAL ofOFFENSE 13SCORE.......................................... CODING:
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hb255 -02-e1 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/HB , Engrossed 1 2025 92 Total 94 TOTAL OFFENSE SCORE..........................................
SUBTOTAL........Page 6 of 13 CODING:
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hb255-01-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/HB 255 2025 SUBTOTAL........
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hb255 -02-e1 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/HB , Engrossed 1 2025 ................................................................
Six (6) sentence points are assessed for each community sanction violationPage and7 each successive community sanction violation, unless any of the13 followingCODING: apply:
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hb255-01-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/HB 255 2025 violation and each successive community sanction violation, unless any of the following apply:
PageI. 8 of 13 CODING:
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hb255 -02-e1 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/HB , Engrossed 1 2025 I.
Multiple counts of community sanction violations before the sentencing court shall not be a basis for multiplying the assessmentPage 8 of community13 sanctionCODING: violation points.
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hb255-01-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/HB 255 2025 assessment of community sanction violation points.
921.0023 and for which the offender is serving a sentence of confinement, supervision, or other sanction or for which the offender's date of release from confinement, supervision, or other sanction, whichever is later, is within 3 years before the date the primary offense or any Pageadditional 9offense ofwas 13committed. CODING:
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hb255 -02-e1 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/HB , Engrossed 1 2025 additional offense was committed.
or a felony in another jurisdiction which is a capital felony in that jurisdiction, or would be a capital felony if the offense were committedPage in9 thisof state.13 CODING:
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hb255-01-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/HB 255 2025 committed in this state.
PageSentencing 10multipliers: of 13 CODING:
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words underlined are additions.
hb255 -02-e1 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/HB , Engrossed 1 2025 Sentencing multipliers:
DrugPage trafficking:10 of 13 CODING:
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hb255-01-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/HB 255 2025 Drug trafficking:
775.0823(5), (6), (7), (8), or (9), the subtotal sentence points Pageare 11multiplied ofby 132.0. CODING:
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words underlined are additions.
hb255 -02-e1 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/HB , Engrossed 1 2025 are multiplied by 2.0.
If the offender is convicted of the primary offense and committed that offense for the purposePage of11 benefiting, promoting, or furthering the interests of a13 criminalCODING: gang as defined in s.
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words underlined are additions.
hb255-01-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/HB 255 2025 purpose of benefiting, promoting, or furthering the interests of a criminal gang as defined in s.
741.28(3) with Pagethe 12victim ofor 13perpetrator, CODING:the subtotal sentence points are multiplied by 1.5.
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hb255 -02-e1 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/HB , Engrossed 1 2025 the victim or perpetrator, the subtotal sentence points are multiplied by 1.5.
787.02(3)(a)2.Page 12 of 13 CODING:
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hb255-01-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/HB 255 2025 787.02(3)(a)2.
Section 4.3.
hb255hb255-01-c1 -02-e1
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View plain text versions (4)
- H 255 c1 View text pdf
- H 255 e1 View text pdf
- H 255 er View text Current pdf
- Introduced H 255 Filed pdf
Action History
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Chapter No. 2025-102
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Approved by Governor
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Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
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Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
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CS passed as amended; YEAS 112, NAYS 0
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Amendment 687730 Concur
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Senate Message List
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In Messages
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CS passed as amended; YEAS 37 NAYS 0
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Read 3rd time
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Amendment(s) adopted (687730)
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Read 2nd time
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Substituted for CS/SB 494
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Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
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Withdrawn from Fiscal Policy
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Received
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Referred to Fiscal Policy
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In Messages
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CS passed; YEAS 109, NAYS 0
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Read 3rd time
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Added to Third Reading Calendar
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Placed on 3rd reading
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Read 2nd time
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Bill added to Special Order Calendar (4/9/2025)
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Added to Second Reading Calendar
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Bill released to House Calendar
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Reported out of Judiciary Committee
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Favorable by Judiciary Committee
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Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
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Now in Judiciary Committee
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Referred to Judiciary Committee
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1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
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CS Filed
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Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
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Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee
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Favorable with CS by Criminal Justice Subcommittee
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PCS added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda
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1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
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Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
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Referred to Judiciary Committee
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Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee
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Filed
Sponsors
- Dana Trabulsy · Cosponsor
- Michelle Salzman · Cosponsor
- Mike Redondo · Cosponsor
- Juan Carlos Porras · Cosponsor
- Susan Plasencia · Cosponsor
- Tobin Rogers "Toby" Overdorf · Cosponsor
- Kiyan Michael · Cosponsor
- Johanna López · Cosponsor
- Peggy Gossett-Seidman · Cosponsor
- Yvette Benarroch · Cosponsor
- Fabián Basabe · Cosponsor
- Meg Weinberger · Primary
- Linda Chaney · Primary
- Criminal Justice Subcommittee · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →3 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 150 not signed on
Sponsors (3)
- Weinberger, Meg Republican
- Chaney, Linda Republican
- Criminal Justice Subcommittee
Co-sponsors (11)
- Trabulsy, Dana Republican
- Salzman, Michelle Republican
- Redondo, Mike Republican
- Porras, Juan Carlos Republican
- Plasencia, Susan Republican
- Overdorf, Tobin Rogers "Toby" Republican
- Michael, Kiyan Republican
- López, Johanna Democrat
- Gossett-Seidman, Peggy Republican
- Benarroch, Yvette Republican
- Basabe, Fabián Republican
Not signed on (150)
150 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 150 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 77 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Democrat | 30 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Unaffiliated | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 112 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| % of votes cast | 94% | 0% | 0% | 6% |
How each member voted (119)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| No Party Affiliation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 37 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 97% | 0% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (38)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Collins | — | Yea |
| Ingoglia | — | Not Voting |
| Arrington, Kristen Aston | Democrat | Yea |
| Berman, Lori | Democrat | Yea |
| Bernard, Mack | Democrat | Yea |
| Davis, Tracie | Democrat | Yea |
| Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" | Democrat | Yea |
| Osgood, Rosalind | Democrat | Yea |
| Polsky, Tina Scott | Democrat | Yea |
| Rouson, Darryl Ervin | Democrat | Yea |
| Sharief, Barbara | Democrat | Yea |
| Smith, Carlos Guillermo | Democrat | Yea |
| Pizzo, Jason W. B. | No Party Affiliation | Yea |
| Albritton, Ben | Republican | Yea |
| Boyd, Jim | Republican | Yea |
| Bradley, Jennifer | Republican | Yea |
| Brodeur, Jason | Republican | Yea |
| Burgess, Danny | Republican | Yea |
| Burton, Colleen | Republican | Yea |
| Calatayud, Alexis | Republican | Yea |
| DiCeglie, Nick | Republican | Yea |
| Gaetz, Don | Republican | Yea |
| Garcia, Ileana | Republican | Yea |
| Grall, Erin | Republican | Yea |
| Gruters, Joe | Republican | Yea |
| Harrell, Gayle | Republican | Yea |
| Hooper, Ed | Republican | Yea |
| Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" | Republican | Yea |
| Martin, Jonathan | Republican | Yea |
| McClain, Stan | Republican | Yea |
| Passidomo, Kathleen | Republican | Yea |
| Rodriguez, Ana Maria | Republican | Yea |
| Simon, Corey | Republican | Yea |
| Truenow, Keith L. | Republican | Yea |
| Trumbull, Jay | Republican | Yea |
| Vacant | Republican | Yea |
| Wright, Tom A. | Republican | Yea |
| Yarborough, Clay | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 75 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Democrat | 30 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Unaffiliated | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 109 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| % of votes cast | 92% | 0% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (119)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 255 do?
- Aggravated Animal Cruelty; Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to post on its website the names of certain individuals who have violated specified animal cruelty provisions; provides a sentencing multiplier for specified offenses of aggravated animal cruelty.
- Who sponsors HB 255?
- HB 255 is sponsored by Trabulsy, Dana (Republican), Salzman, Michelle (Republican), Redondo, Mike (Republican), Porras, Juan Carlos (Republican), Plasencia, Susan (Republican), Overdorf, Tobin Rogers "Toby" (Republican), Michael, Kiyan (Republican), López, Johanna (Democrat), Gossett-Seidman, Peggy (Republican), Benarroch, Yvette (Republican), Basabe, Fabián (Republican), Weinberger, Meg (Republican), Chaney, Linda (Republican), and Criminal Justice Subcommittee.
- What is the current status of HB 255?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 27, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 255?
- Track HB 255 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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