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HB 445FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026signed
Enacted

New 'Missy's Law' Requires Immediate Jail Time for Dangerous Crimes

Original title: Dangerous Crimes

November 18, 2025

criminal justicecourt procedurepublic safetysentencingFlorida lawcriminal procedure and corrections

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Where This Stands

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Signed

Current status: signed.

Last action
Chapter No. 2026-19Apr 1, 2026

Procedural history

35 actions
  1. Feb 26, 2026SenateEnrolled
    Received
  2. Feb 26, 2026SenateCommittee
    Referred to Rules
  3. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    In Messages
  4. Feb 25, 2026HouseFloor
    CS passed; YEAS 93, NAYS 20
  5. Feb 25, 2026HouseFloor
    Read 3rd time
  6. Feb 25, 2026House
    Added to Third Reading Calendar
Show 29 earlier actions
  1. Feb 25, 2026HouseFloor
    Read 2nd time
  2. Feb 19, 2026House
    Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
  3. Feb 11, 2026House
    Added to Second Reading Calendar
  4. Feb 11, 2026House
    Bill referred to House Calendar
  5. Feb 10, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
  6. Feb 10, 2026HouseIntroduced
    CS Filed
  7. Feb 10, 2026House
    Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
  8. Feb 10, 2026House
    Reported out of Judiciary Committee
  9. Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable with CS by Judiciary Committee
  10. Feb 6, 2026House
    Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
  11. Jan 30, 2026House
    Now in Judiciary Committee
  12. Jan 30, 2026House
    Reported out of Justice Budget Subcommittee
  13. Jan 29, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable by Justice Budget Subcommittee
  14. Jan 27, 2026House
    Added to Justice Budget Subcommittee agenda
  15. Jan 21, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
  16. Jan 21, 2026House
    Now in Justice Budget Subcommittee
  17. Jan 21, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to Judiciary Committee
  18. Jan 21, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to Justice Budget Subcommittee
  19. Jan 20, 2026HouseIntroduced
    CS Filed
  20. Jan 20, 2026House
    Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
  21. Jan 20, 2026House
    Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee
  22. Jan 20, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable with CS by Criminal Justice Subcommittee
  23. Jan 15, 2026House
    PCS added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda
  24. Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
  25. Nov 24, 2025House
    Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
  26. Nov 24, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Judiciary Committee
  27. Nov 24, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Justice Budget Subcommittee
  28. Nov 24, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee
  29. Nov 18, 2025HouseIntroduced
    Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This law changes the standard procedure for defendants convicted of serious offenses by mandating immediate incarceration, regardless of whether they intend to appeal their conviction, which impacts the length of time defendants spend in jail before their formal sentencing.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Criminal defendants

Individuals convicted of specified dangerous crimes are subject to mandatory immediate custody without the possibility of bond while awaiting sentencing.

Judicial system

Courts are required to remand defendants to custody immediately upon a finding of guilt for the specified crimes.

What changed

Current stage: signed.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

Starting July 1, 2026, individuals who plead guilty or are found guilty of specific 'dangerous crimes' must be immediately taken into custody and held without bond while awaiting sentencing. This law removes the possibility of release on bond between the time of conviction and the final sentencing hearing.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this law apply if I plan to appeal my conviction?
Yes. The law explicitly states that the mandatory custody requirement applies regardless of whether the person intends to appeal or has already filed a notice of appeal.
What happens if my conviction is overturned later?
The mandatory custody requirement does not apply if the plea or finding of guilt is vacated, reversed on appeal, set aside by a , or otherwise nullified.
What crimes are considered 'dangerous' under this law?
The law lists 27 categories, including arson, homicide, sexual battery, kidnapping, domestic violence, human trafficking, and computer pornography/child exploitation.

Why It Matters

This law changes the standard procedure for defendants convicted of serious offenses by mandating immediate incarceration, regardless of whether they intend to appeal their conviction, which impacts the length of time defendants spend in jail before their formal sentencing.

News Coverage

Lean Left1
Center3
4 sources
Blind spot - no right-leaning coverage
C

More than 100 new laws went into effect in Florida on July 1

WJHG / WECP (NBC/CBS Panama City)Jul 1, 2026

More than 100 new state laws officially went into effect across Florida on July 1. These changes cover a wide range of policy areas and regulatory updates.

C

New month, new laws: Here's what just went into effect in Florida

WUFT Public Media — News Feed (Gainesville)Jul 1, 2026

A summary of new state laws that recently took effect in Florida, covering topics ranging from data center regulations to access for the Florida Virtual School.

LL

140 new Florida laws go into effect on July 1. Here are some you'll want to know

WUSF (NPR Tampa Bay) — EducationJul 1, 2026

A total of 140 new state laws and the 2026-27 Florida budget take effect on July 1. These changes impact various sectors including public safety, environmental policy, healthcare, and education.

C

11 Florida laws you should know that take effect on July 1

NBC 6 South FloridaJun 30, 2026

This article outlines 11 new Florida laws effective July 1, covering changes to criminal sentencing, school curriculum, airport naming rights, and local government environmental policies. These measures range from new traffic offender designations to requirements for cursive writing instruction in public schools.

Bias ratings based on AllSides / Media Bias/Fact Check

Voting Record

Motion succeededhouse2/25/2026Official roll call ↗

Passage, Third Reading

Total

203

Yes

162

No

33

Present

0

Not Voting

8

Abstain

0

Full roll-call analysis →

Sponsors

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Expansion of Dangerous Crimes Definition

The bill adds computer pornography and child exploitation to the existing list of dangerous crimes, broadening the scope of offenses subject to mandatory pretrial detention.

Florida Statutes

Connected Entities

organizationRules“referred to”Map →
organizationHouse Calendar“bill referred to”Map →
date2026-02-25“bill passed”Map →
organizationJudiciary Committee“referred to and reported out of”Map →
dollar_amount20“NAYS vote count”Map →
date2025-11-18“bill filed”Map →
dollar_amount93“YEAS vote count”Map →
dollar_amount7.18“laid on table under”Map →
organizationJustice Budget Subcommittee“referred to and reported out of”Map →
organizationCriminal Justice Subcommittee“referred to and reported out of”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy60
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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