SESSION WATCH
Became law SENATE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-147

No. SB 418

Law Enforcement Officer Interactions with Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
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SPONSOR
Jones
FILED BY
Shevrin D. Jones — District 34, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Law Enforcement Officer Interactions with Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder; Requiring the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to establish a program to improve communication between individuals with autism spectrum disorder and law enforcement officers under certain circumstances; requiring the department to develop and make available to individuals with autism spectrum disorder a certain envelope and card by a specified date; defining the terms “agency” and “autism spectrum disorder”; requiring the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission within the Department of Law Enforcement to establish an employment training component relating to individuals with autism spectrum disorder, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates autism-specific training for all law enforcement officers.

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles must create a blue envelope and card program by January 1, 2027. These items help individuals with autism communicate their status to officers during traffic stops.

The Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission must establish a new training component for law enforcement. This training covers recognizing autism, de-escalation, and interviewing techniques to protect individual rights.

All law enforcement officers must complete this new training by July 1, 2030. The training counts toward the 40 hours required for continued employment certification.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Training for Law Enforcement majors. 943.1727(4)(b)

AIRequires all law enforcement officers to complete specific autism training by 2030.

“Each certified law enforcement officer must successfully complete such training component” bill text, line 119 →
§ 2 Blue Envelope and Card Program moderates. 320.021(2)(a)

AIRequires the DMV to create identification tools for individuals with autism.

“The department shall develop and make available to individuals with autism spectrum disorder a blue envelope” bill text, line 39 →
§ 3 Specific Training Curriculum moderates. 943.1727(3)

AIMandates specific topics like de-escalation and interrogation techniques.

“must include in-person instruction for initial certification and online instruction for continued employment” bill text, line 83 →
§ 4 Training Counts Toward Certification majors. 943.1727(2)

AIMakes autism training mandatory for the 40-hour certification requirement.

“Completion of the training component counts toward the 40 hours of instruction”
TIMELINE
6/17/2026
Chapter No. 2026-147
6/16/2026
Approved by Governor
6/12/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/11/2026
Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
3/11/2026
Passed as amended; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 800
3/11/2026
Concurred in 1 amendment(s) (376741) -SJ 800
3/10/2026
In returning messages
3/10/2026
Passed as amended; YEAS 111, NAYS 0
3/10/2026
Read 3rd time
3/10/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/10/2026
Amendment 376741 adopted
3/10/2026
Read 2nd time
3/9/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
3/9/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/10/2026)
3/9/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/19/2026
In Messages
2/19/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 356
2/19/2026
Passed; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 346
2/19/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 346
2/19/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 346
2/17/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/19/26
2/12/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/12/2026
Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 19 NAYS 0
2/9/2026
On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 02/12/26, 9:00 am, 110 Senate Building
2/4/2026
Now in Fiscal Policy
2/4/2026
Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil...
1/30/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and...
1/27/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
1/26/2026
Favorable by Criminal Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
1/21/2026
On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 01/26/26, 3:30 pm, 37...
1/13/2026
Introduced
11/17/2025
Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations Committee on Criminal...
11/6/2025
Filed
27 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 320.021
+226 / −0
s. 943.1727
+384 / −50
STAFF ANALYSES
3 MORE →