Starting July 1, Florida rolls out 87 new laws, affecting everything from tax breaks and pet care to neighborhood rules and airport names.
Hunters, anglers, and campers get a big win: a four-month sales tax holiday runs from September through December, covering ammo, firearms, fishing gear, and camping supplies. There’s no price limit on ammunition. Homeowners can apply for sales tax refunds on hurricane-proof doors and windows all the way through June 2029.
If you visit the vet after July 1, they have to tell you that you’re free to get your pet’s prescription filled at any pharmacy you like. Pet dealers now face stricter rules, too. Before you buy, they must spell out all the financing details and provide the animal’s veterinary records. And if you discover your new pet is sick, the law lets you walk away from those financing agreements penalty-free.
Local governments can’t ban gas-powered lawn equipment anymore. A new agriculture law does something specific: It bans sex offenders convicted of crimes against children from living within 1,000 feet of a public swimming pool.
Several laws have a direct impact on people’s lives. Domestic violence victims can now receive up to $2,500 to help them move, up from $1,500, and judges can factor in threats against family pets when granting protective orders. Data centers can’t push their electricity costs onto regular folks and small business owners. The law also blocks utilities from serving data centers tied to countries the state considers security concerns.
Even the state’s geography changes a bit. Palm Beach International Airport gets a new title: President Donald J. Trump International Airport. And 124 miles of SR-80, stretching across the state, now go by “President Donald J. Trump Highway.” In Tallahassee, the airport honors longtime Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden.
For students with disabilities, there’s a new path to a diploma: one year of Special Olympics counts as P.E. credit. Two years in marching band now covers both your P.E. and performing arts credits.
On the environmental front, state and local governments can’t enforce net-zero greenhouse gas policies or impose carbon taxes.
Most of these laws take effect on July 1, but with a handful of bills still on the governor’s desk, this list might keep growing. So far this year, Governor Ron DeSantis has signed over 100 new pieces of legislation into law, and the changes will ripple out across Florida, big and small.
To see all the new laws, click here.
