Florida 2025 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 2 R · 1 D cosponsors

SB 494 — Aggravated Animal Cruelty

Last action — Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 255 (Ch. 2025-102)

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

This bill died with 2025 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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Aggravated Animal Cruelty; Citing this act as "Dexter’s Law"; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to post on its website the names of certain individuals who have violated specified animal cruelty provisions; providing a sentencing multiplier for specified offenses of aggravated animal cruelty, etc.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

360 added · 22 removed

360 line(s) added, 22 removed.

→
Previous
Latest
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 494 By Senator Leek 7-00649A-25 2025494__ A bill to be entitled An act relating to animal cruelty;
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 494 By the Committee on Criminal Justice;
and Senator Leek 591-02820-25 2025494c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to aggravated animal cruelty;
providing a short title;
amending s.
921.0024, F.S.;
providing a sentencing multiplier for specified offenses of aggravated animal cruelty;
providing applicability;
8 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
This act may be cited as “Dexter’s Law.” Section 2.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Subsection (1) of section 921.0024, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
921.0024 Criminal Punishment Code;
worksheet computations;
scoresheets.— (1)(a) The Criminal Punishment Code worksheet is used to compute the subtotal and total sentence points as follows:
Page 1 of 12 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 494 591-02820-25 2025494c1 FLORIDA CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT CODE WORKSHEET OFFENSE SCORE Primary Offense Level Sentence Points Total 10 116 = ........
9 92 = ........
8 74 = ........
7 56 = ........
6 36 = ........
5 28 = ........
4 22 = ........
3 16 = ........
2 10 = ........
1 4 = ........
Page 2 of 12 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 494 591-02820-25 2025494c1 Total Additional Offenses Level Sentence Points Counts Total 10 58 x ....
= ....
9 46 x ....
= ....
8 37 x ....
= ....
7 28 x ....
= ....
6 18 x ....
= ....
Show all 227 changed rows (187 more)
Previous
Latest
5 5.4 x ....
= ....
4 3.6 x ....
= ....
3 2.4 x ....
= ....
2 1.2 x ....
= ....
1 0.7 x ....
= ....
Page 3 of 12 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 494 591-02820-25 2025494c1 M 0.2 x ....
= ....
Total Victim Injury Level Sentence Number Total Points 2nd degree murder- death 240 x ....
= ....
Death 120 x ....
= ....
Severe 40 x ....
= ....
Moderate 18 x ....
= ....
Slight 4 x ....
= ....
Sexual penetration 80 x ....
= ....
Page 4 of 12 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 494 591-02820-25 2025494c1 Sexual contact 40 x ....
= ....
Total Primary Offense + Additional Offenses + Victim Injury = TOTAL OFFENSE SCORE PRIOR RECORD SCORE Prior Record Level Sentence Points Number Total 10 29 x ....
= ....
9 23 x ....
= ....
8 19 x ....
= ....
7 14 x ....
= ....
6 9 x ....
= ....
5 3.6 x ....
= ....
Page 5 of 12 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 494 591-02820-25 2025494c1 2.4 x ....
= ....
3 1.6 x ....
= ....
2 0.8 x ....
= ....
1 0.5 x ....
= ....
M 0.2 x ....
= ....
98 Total TOTAL OFFENSE SCORE ...........................................
TOTAL PRIOR RECORD SCORE ......................................
LEGAL STATUS ..................................................
COMMUNITY SANCTION VIOLATION ..................................
PRIOR SERIOUS FELONY ..........................................
PRIOR CAPITAL FELONY ..........................................
FIREARM OR SEMIAUTOMATIC WEAPON ...............................
SUBTOTAL........
PRISON RELEASEE REOFFENDER (no)(yes) ..........................
VIOLENT CAREER CRIMINAL (no)(yes) .............................
HABITUAL VIOLENT OFFENDER (no)(yes) ...........................
HABITUAL OFFENDER (no)(yes) ...................................
Page 6 of 12 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 494 591-02820-25 2025494c1 AGGRAVATED ANIMAL CRUELTY (no)(yes) (x multiplier) ............
DRUG TRAFFICKER (no)(yes) (x multiplier) ......................
LAW ENF.
PROTECT.
(no)(yes) (x multiplier) ....................
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT (no)(yes) (x multiplier) ..................
CRIMINAL GANG OFFENSE (no)(yes) (x multiplier) ................
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE PRESENCE OF RELATED CHILD (no)(yes) (x multiplier)...................................................
ADULT-ON-MINOR SEX OFFENSE (no)(yes) (x multiplier) ...........
.................................................................
TOTAL SENTENCE POINTS........
(b) WORKSHEET KEY:
Legal status points are assessed when any form of legal status existed at the time the offender committed an offense before the court for sentencing.
Four (4) sentence points are assessed for an offender’s legal status.
Community sanction violation points are assessed when a community sanction violation is before the court for sentencing.
Six (6) sentence points are assessed for each community sanction violation and each successive community sanction violation, unless any of the following apply:
1.
If the community sanction violation includes a new felony conviction before the sentencing court, twelve (12) community sanction violation points are assessed for the violation, and for each successive community sanction violation involving a new felony conviction.
2.
If the community sanction violation is committed by a Page 7 of 12 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 494 591-02820-25 2025494c1 violent felony offender of special concern as defined in s.
948.06:
a.
Twelve (12) community sanction violation points are assessed for the violation and for each successive violation of felony probation or community control where:
I.
The violation does not include a new felony conviction;
and II.
The community sanction violation is not based solely on the probationer or offender’s failure to pay costs or fines or make restitution payments.
b.
Twenty-four (24) community sanction violation points are assessed for the violation and for each successive violation of felony probation or community control where the violation includes a new felony conviction.
Multiple counts of community sanction violations before the sentencing court shall not be a basis for multiplying the assessment of community sanction violation points.
Prior serious felony points:
If the offender has a primary offense or any additional offense ranked in level 8, level 9, or level 10, and one or more prior serious felonies, a single assessment of thirty (30) points shall be added.
For purposes of this section, a prior serious felony is an offense in the offender’s prior record that is ranked in level 8, level 9, or level 10 under s.
921.0022 or s.
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, Page 8 of 12 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 494 591-02820-25 2025494c1 is within 3 years before the date the primary offense or any additional offense was committed.
Prior capital felony points:
If the offender has one or more prior capital felonies in the offender’s criminal record, points shall be added to the subtotal sentence points of the offender equal to twice the number of points the offender receives for the primary offense and any additional offense.
A prior capital felony in the offender’s criminal record is a previous capital felony offense for which the offender has entered a plea of nolo contendere or guilty or has been found guilty;
or a felony in another jurisdiction which is a capital felony in that jurisdiction, or would be a capital felony if the offense were committed in this state.
Possession of a firearm, semiautomatic firearm, or machine gun:
If the offender is convicted of committing or attempting to commit any felony other than those enumerated in s.
775.087(2) while having in his or her possession:
a firearm as defined in s.
790.001, an additional eighteen (18) sentence points are assessed;
or if the offender is convicted of committing or attempting to commit any felony other than those enumerated in s.
775.087(3) while having in his or her possession a semiautomatic firearm as defined in s.
775.087(3) or a machine gun as defined in s.
790.001, an additional twenty-five (25) sentence points are assessed.
Sentencing multipliers:
Page 9 of 12 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 494 591-02820-25 2025494c1 Aggravated Animal Cruelty:
If the primary offense is aggravated animal cruelty under s.
828.12(2), which included the knowing and intentional torture or torment of an animal that injured, mutilated, or killed the animal, the subtotal sentence points are multiplied by 1.25.
As used in this paragraph, the term “animal” does not include an animal used for agricultural purposes or permitted as captive wildlife as authorized under s.
379.303.
Drug trafficking:
If the primary offense is drug trafficking under s.
893.135, the subtotal sentence points are multiplied, at the discretion of the court, for a level 7 or level 8 offense, by 1.5.
The state attorney may move the sentencing court to reduce or suspend the sentence of a person convicted of a level 7 or level 8 offense, if the offender provides substantial assistance as described in s.
893.135(4).
Violent offenses committed against specified justice system personnel:
If the primary offense is a violation of s.
775.0823(2), (3), or (4), the subtotal sentence points are multiplied by 2.5.
If the primary offense is a violation of s.
775.0823(5), (6), (7), (8), or (9), the subtotal sentence points are multiplied by 2.0.
If the primary offense is a violation of s.
784.07(3) or s.
775.0875(1), or s.
775.0823(10) or (11), the subtotal sentence points are multiplied by 1.5.
Grand theft of a motor vehicle:
If the primary offense is grand theft of the third degree involving a motor vehicle and in the offender’s prior record, there are three or more grand thefts of Page 10 of 12 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 494 591-02820-25 2025494c1 the third degree involving a motor vehicle, the subtotal sentence points are multiplied by 1.5.
Offense related to a criminal gang:
If the offender is convicted of the primary offense and committed that offense for the purpose of benefiting, promoting, or furthering the interests of a criminal gang as defined in s.
874.03, the subtotal sentence points are multiplied by 1.5.
If applying the multiplier results in the lowest permissible sentence exceeding the statutory maximum sentence for the primary offense under chapter 775, the court may not apply the multiplier and must sentence the defendant to the statutory maximum sentence.
Domestic violence in the presence of a child:
If the offender is convicted of the primary offense and the primary offense is a crime of domestic violence, as defined in s.
741.28, which was committed in the presence of a child under 16 years of age who is a family or household member as defined in s.
741.28(3) with the victim or perpetrator, the subtotal sentence points are multiplied by 1.5.
Adult-on-minor sex offense:
If the offender was 18 years of age or older and the victim was younger than 18 years of age at the time the offender committed the primary offense, and if the primary offense was an offense committed on or after October 1, 2014, and is a violation of s.
787.01(2) or s.
787.02(2), if the violation involved a victim who was a minor and, in the course of committing that violation, the defendant committed a sexual battery under chapter 794 or a lewd act under s.
800.04 or s.
Page 11 of 12 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 494 591-02820-25 2025494c1 847.0135(5) against the minor;
s.
787.01(3)(a)2.
or 3.;
s.
787.02(3)(a)2.
or 3.;
s.
794.011, excluding s.
794.011(10);
s.
800.04;
or s.
847.0135(5), the subtotal sentence points are multiplied by 2.0.
If applying the multiplier results in the lowest permissible sentence exceeding the statutory maximum sentence for the primary offense under chapter 775, the court may not apply the multiplier and must sentence the defendant to the statutory maximum sentence.
Section 4.
Page 1 of 1 CODING:
Page 12 of 12 CODING:
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 255 (Ch. 2025-102)

  2. Substituted CS/HB 255

  3. Read 2nd time

  4. Placed on Special Order Calendar, 04/29/25

  5. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

  6. Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 18 NAYS 0

  7. On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 04/22/25, 11:00 am, 412 Knott Building

  8. Now in Fiscal Policy

  9. Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0

  10. On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice, 04/10/25, 11:00 am, 37 Senate Building

  11. CS by Criminal Justice read 1st time

  12. Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

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

  14. CS by Criminal Justice; YEAS 9 NAYS 0

  15. On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 03/25/25, 1:30 pm, 37 Senate Building

  16. Introduced

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

  18. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

2 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 160 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (160)

160 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 160 →

"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

Passed 18 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 5000
Republican 12001
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 18001
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (19)
Member Party Vote
Ingoglia — Yea
Arrington, Kristen Aston Democrat Yea
Bernard, Mack Democrat Yea
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" Democrat Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Boyd, Jim Republican Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
Calatayud, Alexis Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Yea
Gruters, Joe Republican Yea
Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" Republican Yea
Passidomo, Kathleen Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Ana Maria Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Truenow, Keith L. Republican Yea
Vacant Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Favorable

Passed 8 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1000
Democrat 3000
Republican 4001
Total 8001
% of votes cast 89%0%0%11%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
Ingoglia — Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Polsky, Tina Scott Democrat Yea
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Not Voting
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Wright, Tom A. Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Passed 9 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 2000
Republican 6000
No Party Affiliation 1000
Total 9000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
Bernard, Mack Democrat Yea
Smith, Carlos Guillermo Democrat Yea
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Yea
Gruters, Joe Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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 SB 494 do?
Aggravated Animal Cruelty; Citing this act as "Dexter’s Law"; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to post on its website the names of certain individuals who have violated specified animal cruelty provisions; providing a sentencing multiplier for specified offenses of aggravated animal cruelty, etc.
Who sponsors SB 494?
SB 494 is sponsored by Rodriguez, Ana Maria (Republican), Arrington, Kristen Aston (Democrat), Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" (Republican), and Criminal Justice.
What is the current status of SB 494?
This bill died with 2025 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 SB 494?
Track SB 494 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 494

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 494

Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →