SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-155

No. CS/CS/HB 397

Violations of Pretrial Release Conditions for Violent Crimes
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SPONSOR
Judiciary Committee; Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Daley
FILED BY
Dan Daley — District 96, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
10/1/2026

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Violations of Pretrial Release Conditions for Violent Crimes; Provides that person who is on pretrial release for specified violent crime commits separate criminal offense if such person willfully violates certain conditions of pretrial release; provides penalty for second or subsequent violation; requires person who is arrested for committing specified violations to be held in custody until his or her first appearance hearing; requires court to consider certain factors in determining whether to order pretrial detention or grant pretrial release; provides that law enforcement officer is not liable in civil action for arrest of person based on probable cause to believe that person has violated condition of pretrial release in specified circumstances; authorizes law enforcement officer to arrest person without warrant if there is probable cause to believe that person has willfully violated certain conditions of pretrial release.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Creates a new crime for violating pretrial release conditions on violent offenses.

A person on pretrial release for a specified violent crime commits a first-degree misdemeanor if they willfully violate a court-imposed condition. This creates a new criminal charge for conduct that previously resulted only in a revocation hearing.

A second or subsequent violation of these conditions is classified as a third-degree felony. This escalates the penalty for repeat offenders from a civil matter to a serious criminal conviction.

Officers may arrest a suspect without a warrant if they have probable cause to believe a release condition was willfully violated. This expands the circumstances under which police can take someone into custody.

Officers are immune from civil liability for arrests made based on probable cause of a violation. This protects law enforcement from lawsuits when they act on their belief that a condition was broken.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Custody Until First Appearance majors. 903.0472(3)

AIRequires that a person arrested for a release violation or a new crime while on release be held in custody until their first appearance hearing.

“shall be held in custody until his or her first appearance hearing” bill text, line 65 →
§ 2 Warrantless Arrest Authority majors. 901.15(17)

AIAuthorizes law enforcement officers to arrest a person without a warrant if there is probable cause to believe they willfully violated release conditions.

“A law enforcement officer may arrest a person without a warrant when: (17) There is probable cause to believe that the person has committed a violation of s. 903.0472(1)” bill text, line 82 →
§ 3 Civil Immunity for Officers moderates. 903.0472(4)

AIGrants law enforcement officers immunity from civil liability for arrests made based on probable cause of a release condition violation.

“A law enforcement officer may not be held liable in any civil action for an arrest of a person based on probable cause” bill text, line 77 →
TIMELINE
6/17/2026
Chapter No. 2026-155
6/16/2026
Approved by Governor
6/9/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
2/26/2026
Ordered enrolled
2/26/2026
In Messages
2/26/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 463
2/26/2026
CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 456
2/26/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 456
2/26/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 456
2/26/2026
Substituted for CS/SB 760 -SJ 456
2/26/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/26/2026
Withdrawn from Appropriations -SJ 456
2/18/2026
Received
2/18/2026
Referred to Appropriations
2/17/2026
In Messages
2/17/2026
CS passed; YEAS 101, NAYS 8
2/17/2026
Read 3rd time
2/17/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/17/2026
Read 2nd time
2/10/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/17/2026)
1/28/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
1/28/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
1/27/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
1/27/2026
CS Filed
1/27/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/27/2026
Reported out of Judiciary Committee
1/27/2026
Favorable with CS by Judiciary Committee
1/23/2026
Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
1/21/2026
Now in Judiciary Committee
1/21/2026
Reported out of Justice Budget Subcommittee
1/21/2026
Favorable by Justice Budget Subcommittee
1/16/2026
Added to Justice Budget Subcommittee agenda
1/16/2026
Now in Justice Budget Subcommittee
1/16/2026
Referred to Judiciary Committee
1/16/2026
Referred to Justice Budget Subcommittee
1/15/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/14/2026
CS Filed
1/14/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/14/2026
Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee
1/14/2026
Favorable with CS by Criminal Justice Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/12/2026
PCS added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda
11/18/2025
Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
11/18/2025
Referred to Judiciary Committee
11/18/2025
Referred to Justice Budget Subcommittee
11/18/2025
Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee
11/12/2025
Filed
41 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 903.0472
+13 / −0
s. 903.0472
+419 / −0
s. 901.15
+29 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES