TALLAHASSEE – Beginning Tuesday, Floridians will see main authorized modifications throughout the state as greater than 100 new legal guidelines take impact. Among the many most talked-about: a statewide ban on fluoride in public water programs, more durable penalties for animal cruelty, and new limits on what could be constructed inside state parks.
Florida will turn out to be the second state within the nation—after Utah—to ban fluoride in public water programs. The brand new regulation, backed by Governor Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers, takes impact July 1.

What they’re saying:
“Whenever you do that within the water provide you’re taking the selection away from somebody who might not wish to have overexposure to fluoride,” DeSantis stated at a latest public occasion.
Fluoride has lengthy been added to ingesting water to scale back tooth decay, and dental organizations have pushed again on the ban, citing a long time of well being advantages.
Stricter Animal Cruelty Legal guidelines
A number of legal guidelines will take intention at animal abuse. One, often called Dexter’s Regulation, is known as after a rescue canine who was later discovered beheaded in a Pinellas County park.
The regulation:
- Will increase penalties for aggravated animal cruelty
- Creates a public on-line database of convicted animal abusers
Animal advocates say the regulation is a very long time coming.
“I’m watching these circumstances; I’ve a spreadsheet,” stated Elizabeth Olson, founding father of the Animal Justice Process Drive. “There are already circumstances not being prosecuted that we’ll in all probability go public with.”
One other measure—Trooper’s Regulation—will make it a felony to restrain or abandon a canine throughout pure disasters or evacuations. Violators might withstand 5 years in jail and a $10,000 high-quality.
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No Extra Resorts in State Parks
A brand new regulation will ban large-scale improvement tasks—like golf programs, pickleball courts, and lodges—inside Florida’s state parks.
The transfer follows public backlash to a 2023 state proposal that will have allowed for such facilities. Governor DeSantis in the end withdrew that plan.
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The Supply: This text is predicated on reporting from FOX 13 Information’ Jordan Bowen, who attended Governor DeSantis’ public look and reviewed particulars of the newly signed laws. Extra context and reactions have been supplied by interviews with animal rights advocates and state officers.