SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-159

No. CS/CS/HB 1525

Lewd or Lascivious Acts
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SPONSOR
Judiciary Committee; Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Bankson; Yarkosky
FILED BY
Douglas Bankson — District 39, Republican [search donations]
Taylor Yarkosky — District 25, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
10/1/2026

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Lewd or Lascivious Acts; Removes s. 800.02, F.S., relating to unnatural & lascivious acts; prohibits person from intentionally exposing or exhibiting his or her sexual organs in lewd or lascivious manner while observing child under 16 years of age or performing specified sexual acts while observing child under 16 years of age for specified purpose; provides criminal penalty; prohibits certain defense from being raised; provides exceptions.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Replaces sodomy law with new child exposure crime.

The bill repeals the existing statute criminalizing unnatural and lascivious acts, removing that specific legal prohibition from Florida law.

It creates a new felony for adults who expose sexual organs or perform non-contact sexual acts while observing a child under 16 for sexual gratification.

The new law explicitly states that a child's lack of awareness of the adult's conduct is not a valid legal defense.

It removes the repealed statute from lists governing interview limits for victims and search warrant requirements for private dwellings.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Repeal of Unnatural and Lascivious Acts Statute majors. 1

AIRemoves the existing criminal prohibition against committing unnatural and lascivious acts with a child, eliminating that specific statutory offense from Florida law.

“Section 800.02, Florida Statutes, is repealed.” bill text, line 18 →
§ 2 Creation of Indecent Exposure Offense majors. 2

AICreates a new third-degree felony for intentionally exposing sexual organs or performing non-contact sexual acts while observing a child under 16 for sexual arousal or gratification.

“A person commits the offense of indecent exposure of sexual organs while observing a child if that person, while observing a child under 16 years of age for the purpose of his or” bill text, line 23 →
§ 3 Removal of Search Warrant Ground moderates. 4

AIDeletes the specific statutory ground that allowed law enforcement to obtain a search warrant for a private dwelling based on the commission of an unnatural and lascivious act with a child.

“Commission of an unnatural and lascivious act with a child, in violation of s. 800.02.” bill text, line 77 →
§ 4 Removal of Interview Limitation Reference moderates. 3

AIRemoves the reference to the repealed statute from the list of offenses for which a chief judge must order reasonable limits on the number of interviews a victim with an intellectual disability must submit to.

“s. 800.02, s. 800.03, or s. 825.102 who has an intellectual disability as defined in s. 393.063 must submit to for law enforcement or discovery purposes.” bill text, line 62 →
TIMELINE
6/17/2026
Chapter No. 2026-159
6/16/2026
Approved by Governor
6/9/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/10/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/10/2026
In Messages
3/10/2026
CS passed; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 746
3/10/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 746
3/10/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 746
3/10/2026
Substituted for CS/CS/SB 1742 -SJ 746
3/10/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/10/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 746
3/3/2026
Received
3/3/2026
Referred to Rules
3/3/2026
In Messages
3/3/2026
CS passed; YEAS 108, NAYS 0
3/3/2026
Read 3rd time
3/3/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/3/2026
Read 2nd time
2/26/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026)
2/4/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/4/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
2/4/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/3/2026
CS Filed
2/3/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/3/2026
Reported out of Judiciary Committee
2/3/2026
Favorable with CS by Judiciary Committee
1/30/2026
PCS added to Judiciary Committee agenda
1/29/2026
Now in Judiciary Committee
1/29/2026
Referred to Judiciary Committee
1/28/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/28/2026
CS Filed
1/28/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/28/2026
Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee
1/28/2026
Favorable with CS by Criminal Justice Subcommittee
1/26/2026
Added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda
1/15/2026
Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Referred to Judiciary Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/9/2026
Filed
34 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 800.02
+6 / −0
s. 800.035
+252 / −0
s. 914.16
+0 / −2
s. 933.18
+0 / −16
STAFF ANALYSES