As the new year approaches, several new laws are set to take effect in Florida, with one of the most notable being a restriction on social media for minors.

With just one month left until 2025, nine new bills passed by state legislators during the 2024 session are about to become law. Here’s a breakdown of these new laws and their implications:

HB 3: Online Protections for Minors

This law requires social media platforms to prohibit minors under 14 from creating accounts. Existing accounts held by individuals younger than 14 will be terminated. For minors aged 14 or 15, parental consent will be required to create an account. 

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Social media is defined as electronic communication platforms with “addictive designs” like “infinite scroll” that can cause excessive time spent on the platform.

HB 135: Voter Registration Applications

House Bill 135 addresses issues with voter registration updates at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. It prohibits changing a person’s party affiliation during registration updates unless the applicant consents in writing. The department cannot use a voter registration application to change affiliation unless the applicant designates the change and provides a separate signature. This aims to prevent unintentional changes in party affiliation due to software issues.

HB 267: Building Regulations

Local governments will have stricter timelines for reviewing building permits and can request more information from applicants up to three times, with specific deadlines. If the government misses any deadlines, permit fees must be reduced by 10% for each business day over the initial deadline. This aims to expedite construction projects and improve permit process efficiency.

HB 1093: Florida Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act

This bipartisan bill updates laws governing how fiduciaries, such as trustees and estate administrators, manage and distribute assets. It updates definitions for terms like beneficiary and fiduciary, adds new terms, and provides updated guidance on adjusting between income and principal distribution for fiduciaries. Elements of a national uniform fiduciary act are included to streamline administration across the state.

SB 184: Threatening First Responders

Senate Bill 184 makes it a first-degree misdemeanor for any person who, after receiving a warning, approaches a first responder engaged in “the lawful performance of a legal duty.” Violating the warning within 14 feet of the responder is a criminal offense.

SB 362: Medical Treatment

This law increases the maximum reimbursement allowances for physicians and surgical procedures to 200% of Medicare, up from 110% for physicians and 140% for surgical procedures. It also increases the maximum fees that certain expert witnesses can charge in workers’ compensation cases.

SB 556: Protection from Financial Exploitation

Financial institutions can delay transactions or disbursements from accounts of older or vulnerable adults if they suspect financial exploitation. Older adults are defined as 65 and up, and vulnerable adults include those 18 or older with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities. Delays can last up to 15 business days, with a possible extension of an additional 30 days.

SB 892: Dental Insurance Claims

This bipartisan bill streamlines the insurance claim process by providing clearer rules for insurers. It prohibits contracts between insurers and dentists from containing certain payment method restrictions. Health insurers cannot charge a fee to transmit certain fees and cannot deny claims included in a prior authorization.

SB 7054: Private Activity Bonds

The new law revises regions, pools, and timelines related to bond allocations to maximize the use of these bonds for financing public improvement projects and programs.

These new laws aim to address various issues, from protecting minors online to improving voter registration processes and safeguarding vulnerable adults from financial exploitation. As these laws take effect, they will bring significant changes to the lives of Florida residents.

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