The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches has been improving the lives of at-risk children
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1546354
Florida’s 2026 Legislative Session was defined by a clear and consistent theme: closing gaps in the law that create risk for public safety and challenges for law enforcement. Throughout the session, Florida’s sheriffs played a key role in advancing practical solutions and working with lawmakers to refine existing statutes, address unintended loopholes, and ensure deputies have the authority and tools needed to respond effectively to evolving public safety threats. Rather than sweeping policy shifts, the session focused on targeted, practical fixes that strengthen accountability and remove barriers to timely enforcement. Of the nearly 1,900 bills filed, only 230 ultimately passed both chambers (roughly 12%, one of the lowest passage rates in recent years), making the public safety priorities that succeeded more significant. Following a special session in late April to finalize the state budget, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the $117.6 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2026-27 on June 29, 2026. Among the priorities secured was $9 million to support completion of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Learning Center, a facility that will highlight more than 200 years of sheriff history and introduce students to careers in law enforcement and public service. For more information on the FSA legislative program and to stay up to date on all legislative issues, visit flsheriffs.org/legislative. Florida Retirement System (FRS), HB 5205E: Establishes employer contribution rates for fiscal year 2026-27, creates a new 1.5% minimum cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for eligible Special Risk Class retirees, and authorizes certain elected county officers to receive their Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) accumulations without terminating from office. ARMOR Act, HB 757: Expands the Guardian Program to include public colleges and universities and creates stronger sentencing for discharging a weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a school. Officer Jason Raynor Act, SB 156: Strengthens protections for law enforcement by prohibiting the use or threat of force against officers acting in good faith and imposing a mandatory life sentence for the manslaughter of an officer. Victim Safety in Pretrial Release, HB 397: Allows law enforcement to immediately arrest a defendant on pretrial release who violates a no-contact order related to certain violent offenses, regardless of the victim’s relationship to the accused, and requires such offenders who commit a new crime while on pretrial release to be held until first appearance. Intoxicating Substances, SB 432 : Targets emerging drug threats by creating strong felony and trafficking penalties for xylazine and restricting the sale and distribution of nitrous oxide by certain licensed dealers. Sexual Offenses, HB 1159: Strengthens Florida’s criminal laws related to child sexual abuse material by increasing penalties, establishing mandatory minimum sentences, and creating enhanced charges for the most serious offenses, including criminalizing emerging forms of exploitation involving generated content. 17 2026/ISSUE 3