SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 304

Violations of State Immigration Laws
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SPONSOR
Martin
FILED BY
Jonathan Martin — District 33, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Judiciary

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Violations of State Immigration Laws; Requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to impose a fine for certain violations; requiring the department to use the moneys collected from such fines to provide compensation to victims harmed by unauthorized aliens; requiring the department to develop a program to compensate residents who have suffered harm caused by unauthorized aliens; creating a cause of action against certain local governmental entities and law enforcement agencies under certain circumstances, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Creates a $10,000 fine and a new lawsuit against local governments for deaths caused by unauthorized aliens.

The Department of Law Enforcement must impose a $10,000 fine for each violation of state immigration enforcement agreements. The collected money must be used to compensate victims harmed by unauthorized aliens.

The department must develop a program to compensate residents who suffered harm caused by an unauthorized alien. Eligibility requires the harm to occur in Florida on or after July 1, 2026, and the alien to have materially contributed to the harm.

The estate of a person killed by an unauthorized alien may sue local governments or law enforcement agencies that violate state immigration cooperation laws. The plaintiff must prove that a failure to cooperate with federal authorities materially contributed to the death.

The state waives sovereign immunity for these specific wrongful death lawsuits. This means local governments and law enforcement agencies can be held financially liable for damages in these cases.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory $10,000 Fine and Victim Compensation Fund majors. 908.11(3)

AICreates a mandatory financial penalty for immigration enforcement violations and directs the revenue to a new victim compensation program.

“The Department of Law Enforcement shall impose a fine of $10,000 for each violation of this section and shall use the moneys collected from such fines to provide compensation to” bill text, line 31 →
§ 2 State-Run Compensation Program for Harm Caused by Unauthorized Aliens majors. 908.14(2)

AIRequires the Department of Law Enforcement to establish a program to compensate residents who suffer harm caused by an unauthorized alien.

“The Department of Law Enforcement shall develop a program to compensate residents who have suffered harm caused by an unauthorized alien.” bill text, line 40 →
§ 3 Compensation Eligibility Requirements moderates. 908.14(3)(b)

AISets specific evidentiary and procedural standards that victims must meet to receive compensation under the new program.

“The preponderance of the evidence must show that an unauthorized alien materially contributed to the harm for which compensation is sought” bill text, line 47 →
§ 4 Civil Cause of Action Against Local Governments and Law Enforcement majors. 908.15(2)

AIAllows the estate of a person killed by an unauthorized alien to sue local governments and law enforcement agencies for failure to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

“The estate of a person killed by an unauthorized alien has a cause of action against: (a) A local governmental entity or law enforcement agency that has a sanctuary policy in” bill text, line 60 →
§ 5 Waiver of Sovereign Immunity for Wrongful Death Claims majors. 908.15(4)

AIExempts the new wrongful death cause of action from the state's standard sovereign immunity protections, allowing lawsuits to proceed against state entities.

“Notwithstanding s. 768.28, and in accordance with s. 13, Art. X of the State Constitution, the state waives sovereign immunity for liability for torts under this section.” bill text, line 71 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Judiciary
1/13/2026
Introduced
11/17/2025
Referred to Judiciary; Appropriations Committee on Criminal and...
10/28/2025
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 908.11
+40 / −0
s. 908.14
+129 / −0
s. 908.15
+156 / −0
s. 768.28
+13 / −0