[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6122697,"mediaKeyId","2694411-5b707ce165a86563b3f0b8c37be01cfc","parentId",2694411,"title","Criminal Justice Committee advances a slate of bills on drones, drugs, animals, cyberharassment and court-safety; roll-call outcomes listed","audioSeconds",2926,"startMs",2863000,"endMs",5789000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694411-5b707ce165a86563b3f0b8c37be01cfc&start=2863&end=5789","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694411-5b707ce165a86563b3f0b8c37be01cfc/thumbnail_2863000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6122697/Florida/Criminal-Justice-Committee-advances-a-slate-of-bills-on-drones-drugs-animals-cyberharassment-and-court-safety-roll-call-outcomes-listed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122697-dd1f3201a201b0b8266631c741a41a11/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171640&Signature=Rhg2c1MInv4HbFc6tnEW8S1gXcG0SnjOWbsgrAMOsmSbnW2X7pE96EcfZo17uhNEAchkkBYk3bNQMndkdOqsYCJL9WPLpLhQ04ADykXqEm3aY5EFm5F41eFQsBIYD6qhrJUO2V9MDXDCZl2ZFTYVw-P0Ba55~8gB-eh-c9S7FP2vgVoK5vz9GgfVfKjWT7tSPjTgs3TN3EZiC7TYtrtYgt1OMaBOp6DWM5oKoqy7pe213QxPFtvG91XpcrvEjYp2K-yui6SciUZR-Jbn1WkFb8faZaL0kKtIMsLjuNbAeOTGFi72kiacppUuoJoIyzLZabcHV7OvxZtUkEXX2oaP~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Florida State Legislature","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday considered numerous bills across the committee’s agenda and reported committee substitutes or passed measures to be reported favorably on a slate of public-safety and criminal‑law items. Several bills were amended; the committee recorded roll-call results where required.

Key outcomes

- CS for SB 1422 (unmanned aircraft systems/drones): The committee adopted amendments that increase penalties for prohibited drone uses over critical infrastructure, prohibit attachment of weapons or explosives to an unmanned aircraft, create a first‑degree felony where the aircraft carries a weapon of mass destruction or biological agent, and allow reasonable use of force to prevent drone surveillance of private property within 500 feet. The committee reported CS for SB 1422 favorably on a roll call.

- CS for SB 1360 (xylazine controlled substances): The committee amended the scheduling language to ensure veterinary uses are preserved while clarifying criminal offenses and mandatory-minimum penalties for unlawful distribution, trafficking and possession with intent to sell. The committee reported CS for SB 1360 favorably.

- CS for SB 1732 (animal cruelty and minors): A strike‑all amendment expanded criminal penalties for adults who cause or entice minors to commit animal-cruelty offenses and increased penalties for animal fighting and baiting. The committee reported CS for SB 1732 favorably.

- CS for SB 1084 (nonconsensual distribution of intimate images / “cyberharassment”): Members adopted a strike‑all amendment to update definitions of \"intimate image\" and to add digitally forged intimate images; the amendment increases the time limit for prosecution and clarifies consent expectations. CS for SB 1084 was reported favorably.

- CS for SB 1654 (registration of sex offenders and predators): The committee clarified definitions of permanent, temporary and in‑state travel residence, permitted online reporting for in‑state travel residences, adjusted reporting requirements for registrants on supervision, and specified routine address‑verification frequencies for law enforcement. The committee reported the bill favorably.

- CS for SB 1268 (Department of Law Enforcement): The bill removed obsolete provisions, amended the capital complex definition to include the Governor's Mansion, and increased reimbursement for retired police dog care from $1,500 to $5,000. The committee reported the bill favorably.

- CS for SB 1084, SB 1268, SB 1422, SB 1360, SB 1654, SB 1732 and related measures were each reported favorably; roll‑call results are recorded in the committee minutes for measures that required recorded votes.

Other notable results

- SB 776 and SB 984 (aggravating factors in capital cases): Both measures were presented and reported favorably in committee. Testimony included both supporters and opponents raising concerns about redundancy with existing aggravating‑factor law and potential effects on the capital‑punishment framework. The committee recorded favorable reports for both bills.

- SB 1640 (lethality-assessment forms/public records): The committee approved a public-records exemption making law-enforcement lethality‑assessment forms confidential and exempt; committee reported favorably.

- SB 1774 (rebuttable presumption in certain deaths): The committee advanced a bill creating a rebuttable presumption tied to the presence of controlled substances in an autopsy for some second‑degree murder or manslaughter cases; sponsors said the measure is intended to assist defendants in certain self‑defense or mitigation contexts. The committee reported the bill favorably.

Procedure and next steps

Several bills were amended on the floor of committee prior to final votes. Where roll calls were held, the committee clerk recorded yea and nay votes in the committee record. Each reported measure now advances in the Senate process and may be considered by other committees or on the Senate floor, where additional amendments and debate are possible.

This roundup does not substitute for the committee minutes, which contain the full roll‑call tallies, amendments by barcode, and all appearance‑card names and testimonial excerpts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee on Criminal Justice 3/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday advanced a package of bills covering drones, controlled substances, animal cruelty and court safety; amendments and committee substitutes were adopted and measures were reported favorably to the next stage in the Senate process.","taxTitle","Criminal Justice, Standing Committees, Senate, Legislative, Florida","taxId",25569,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6122701,"Senate Criminal Justice Committee advances bill tightening school-material review and limiting \"taken as a whole\" defense",2651,185000,2836000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694411-5b707ce165a86563b3f0b8c37be01cfc&start=185&end=2836","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694411-5b707ce165a86563b3f0b8c37be01cfc/thumbnail_185000.jpg","/articles/6122701/Florida/Senate-Criminal-Justice-Committee-advances-bill-tightening-school-material-review-and-limiting-taken-as-a-whole-defense","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122701-7d3bdcbdd4f6c633583fd0751ee0e614/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171640&Signature=YhD0M1bLTJ~pOluLpRUsbYfZQtkCmfD3S2sncWBfoM8TCb2wyO4oU3tMYbVFv2P47GTNBapcpejSvZik4Cd2GR7ilSf9FzeZonIn3R~nE~I19-erf7x0~6BgvUQUWUanrIJCNu8vaqJRyG~wri8xCtrfhEgsGCoHxNKK5AZjt7SL0eQ1gdqeBuQr8OETCk2Yt4l8AFhOupA4KiXwloVw0GeIM7JRKYLIBn7oUZKTtxl199Zt7Lrdr~UTkfmKFzsZXhXWfwJ0XnY2DBmM7d9DOdBahc1BGa4Ag55u1TOJ73MJN5LHTfQ2~qKYL3Zu-GYKUxSDyg~IVywMxGpSlBoTxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee on a recorded vote advanced CS for SB 1692, a bill that amends how schools and parents may object to instructional and library materials that some members say are “harmful to minors.” The committee adopted a “delete-all” amendment and then voted to report the committee substitute favorably.

Sponsor remarks and the amendment

Senator McClain, who presented the delete-all amendment, said the change refines criteria for what can be challenged and moves the definition of \"harmful to minors\" into statute 1006.28, which governs instructional materials for K–12 schools. “The amendment refines criteria for materials considered harmful to minors,” McClain said, adding the change removes an existing criminal-penalty trigger in chapter 847 and places the objection process squarely in education law.

Under the amendment, the statutory standard no longer requires assessing a work \"taken as a whole\" for serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value when determining whether it is harmful; instead the objection process focuses on criteria such as whether the material is pornographic under the statutory pornographic definition, or is otherwise unsuitable for student needs or comprehension. The amendment further requires that, upon receiving an objection to classroom or library material, the material must be removed within five school days and remain unavailable for the duration of the review process.

Public testimony and concerns

The committee heard lengthy public comment, including parents, librarians, booksellers and advocacy groups. Several witnesses said the change would make it easier for districts to remove books that citizens and librarians view as having literary or educational value.

Stefana Farrell of the Florida Freedom to Read Project (appearance card) and multiple librarians warned removing the \"taken as a whole\" analysis risks overturning decades of court precedent protecting literary works. A parent and Broward County school-board member, Brenda Pham, described a local challenge in which she said she was prevented from reading passages at a committee hearing and read a passage from a contested book into the committee record.

Opponents argued the amendment would permit removal of classic works in whole or in part and weaken protections for student access to literature. “This bill in its amended language is not carefully written,” said one witness. Supporters argued the amendment clarifies the standard, prevents districts from relying on a literary-value defense to retain materials that contain pornographic content, and places objections under an education review process rather than in the penal code.

Committee debate and votes

Vice Chair Smith opposed the amendment on free-speech and censorship grounds, arguing it “says that the school board may not consider potential literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as a basis for retaining the material” and warned it would increase censorship.

Senator McClain said the intent is to create a clearer standard and keep pornographic materials out of schools while preserving age-appropriate use of literary works.

The committee first adopted the delete-all amendment by voice vote after an objection; the chair then called a roll. The committee later reported CS for SB 1692 favorably on a roll call. The recorded committee vote was: Bradley—Yes; Garcia—Yes; Gruters—Yes; Simon—Yes; Yarbrough—Yes; Chair Martin—Yes; Bernard—No; Pizzo—No; Vice Chair Smith—No. The committee’s record shows the committee substitute was reported favorably.

What the bill would do

As amended on the floor of the committee, SB 1692:
- Moves the definition of \"harmful to minors\" into section 1006.28 (instructional materials) rather than leaving criminal definitions in chapter 847;
- Removes the statutory requirement that material be judged \"taken as a whole\" to show serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value when resolving objections;
- Requires removal of objected material from availability within five school days while a district review proceeds;
- Preserves an appellate route to the Department of Education under the bill for dissatisfied parents.

Support and opposition

Supporters included parent groups and organizations that argued the bill will better protect students from pornographic content and clarify the review process. Opponents included librarians, booksellers and civil liberties advocates who warned the change could widen book removals and overturn long-standing legal tests for evaluating literature.

Next steps

The committee reported the committee substitute favorably; the measure will advance in the legislative process and may be amended further in subsequent committees or on the Senate floor. The committee record includes numerous public comments and appearance cards documenting both strong support and vigorous opposition.","After hours of testimony and debate, the Criminal Justice Committee approved CS/SB 1692 as amended. The bill moves parts of the “harmful to minors” definition into the school-instruction statute, narrows consideration of literary/artistic value in objections, and creates a timeline for materials to be removed during review.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6122707,"Senate committee recommends Michelle Whitworth for Florida Commission on Offender Review",0,2746000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694411-5b707ce165a86563b3f0b8c37be01cfc&start=2746&end=2746","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694411-5b707ce165a86563b3f0b8c37be01cfc/thumbnail_2746000.jpg","/articles/6122707/Florida/Senate-committee-recommends-Michelle-Whitworth-for-Florida-Commission-on-Offender-Review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122707-2b475bf4791183696490db0d6dfdb21e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171640&Signature=LI1~wYAOlFYqoyjmWPmx5l7OQkSRNojLHMzY8mwEtp8ThYuQIdUm~KgLq0HA3jO6Dy8OekO-qnKK-QLSFXB4UQK2KXIPG9S~DBiFX1l-l4nZ2qhC7lHksLzi0gKy0A8bkUsQhA0Jo7ecio2i18pRtqLWRoLn4cvEmGbrUmKyhnoXric2SMgKmoBMJ4DCO0u-3uHAnuvIHzokrJDb8HCuh3R~BshDqr7XQ7hBC4EKSxKujtKHioiyFHo85amm-tTolSBTG6VUtVCkjKDvcHW4Tnpcq8Cd3MXqZR-xnGbevctfFPBY414CXJaNpdNr9ON~shVHiAdtXrkYjcO6conogg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee on an affirmative vote recommended Michelle Whitworth for appointment to the Florida Commission on Offender Review after a brief confirmation hearing.

Whitworth was sworn in, addressed the committee and described her background: “I’ve been in the criminal justice world for 30 years, starting at the Florida Department of Corrections,” she said, and added that she is “now reviewing the very cases that I supervised in my career as a probation officer.”

Committee members asked no substantive policy questions, and several supporters submitted appearance cards in support, including David Wyatt identified as an F Corp chairman and Barney Bishop of the Florida Smart Justice Alliance (both waived in). Whitworth closed by saying she would “enjoy your support” and stressing her experience in supervision and victim and public-safety considerations.

Vice Chair Smith moved to recommend confirmation; a second was recorded. The committee recorded a favorable recommendation for Whitworth.

The committee immediately moved to other agenda items after the vote; the confirmation will be reflected in committee records sent to the full Senate for further action.

Whitworth’s confirmation recommendation means the commission will have a nominee with long experience in corrections and probation work; formal appointment requires subsequent steps outside this committee’s action.

No state statutes or other legal authorities were cited during the confirmation exchange.

The committee adjourned consideration of the appointment and proceeded to the next agenda items.","The Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee voted to recommend Michelle Whitworth’s confirmation to the Florida Commission on Offender Review after a brief hearing in which Whitworth described her 30 years of corrections experience.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Criminal Justice Committee advances a slate of bills on drones, drugs, animals, cyberharassment and court-safety; roll-call outcomes listed

Senate Criminal Justice Committee advances bill tightening school-material review and limiting "taken as a whole" defense

Senate committee recommends Michelle Whitworth for Florida Commission on Offender Review