SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 547

Injunctions for Protection
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SPONSOR
Gerwig
FILED BY
Anne Gerwig — District 93, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Injunctions for Protection; Creates cause of action for injunction for protection in cases of serious violence by known person; specifies persons who have standing to file such injunction for protection in circuit court if specified conditions are met; prohibits clerk of court from assessing fee for filing of such injunction for protection; requires clerk of court to provide petitioner with certified copy of such injunction for protection; provides requirements for such petition for injunction for protection; provides requirements for temporary or final judgment on such injunction for protection; requires clerk of court to electronically transmit copies of specified documents within certain timeframe after court issues such injunction for protection; requires law enforcement officers to accept certified copy of such injunction for protection from petitioner & immediately serve it upon respondent; provides requirements for inclusion of such injunction for protection in specified statewide communication system; requires that respondent be held in custody if he or she is arrested for committing act of serious violence by known person in violation of injunction for protection until being brought before court.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Creates new injunction for serious violence between known individuals.

The bill creates a new cause of action for an injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person. This expands the types of violence covered under the statute beyond existing categories.

It defines serious violence by a known person as an act of violence between individuals who are known to one another, when such violence causes serious bodily injury. This establishes the threshold for the new injunction.

The bill grants standing to file a petition to the victim or the parent/guardian of a minor child victim, provided the violence was reported to law enforcement and the petitioner is cooperating with criminal proceedings.

It prohibits the clerk of the court from assessing a filing fee for petitions seeking protection against serious violence by a known person, removing a financial barrier to access.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 New Injunction Category majors. 784.046(2)

AICreates a new cause of action for an injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person, expanding the types of violence covered under the statute.

“there is created a separate cause of action for an injunction for protection in cases of serious violence by a known person.” bill text, line 119 →
§ 2 Definition of Serious Violence majors. 784.046(1)(c)

AIDefines serious violence by a known person as an act of violence between known individuals that causes serious bodily injury, establishing the threshold for the new injunction.

“"Serious violence by a known person" means an act of violence between individuals who are known to one another, when such violence causes serious bodily injury.” bill text, line 111 →
§ 3 Standing Requirements majors. 784.046(2)(d)

AIGrants standing to file a petition to the victim or the parent/guardian of a minor child victim, provided the violence was reported to law enforcement and the petitioner is cooperating with criminal proceedings.

“has standing in the circuit court to file a verified petition for an injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person” bill text, line 129 →
§ 4 Expanded Stalking Penalties majors. 784.048(4)

AIIncreases the criminal penalty for stalking if the victim is protected by a new type of injunction.

“or serious violence by a known person” bill text, line 64 →
§ 5 No Filing Fee moderates. 784.046(3)(b)

AIProhibits the clerk of the court from assessing a filing fee for petitions seeking protection against serious violence by a known person, removing a financial barrier to access.

“the clerk of the court may not assess a fee for filing a petition for protection against repeat violence, sexual violence, or dating violence, or serious violence by a known person” bill text, line 178 →
§ 6 Custody Upon Violation moderates. 784.046(9)(b)

AIRequires that a respondent arrested for committing an act of serious violence by a known person in violation of an injunction must be held in custody until brought before the court.

“the respondent must be held in custody until brought before the court as expeditiously as possible”
§ 7 Statewide Verification System moderates. 784.046(8)(b)

AIMandates the inclusion of serious violence by a known person injunctions in the statewide verification system, ensuring law enforcement agencies can access injunction status information.

“Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Violence, and Repeat Violence, and Serious Violence by a Known Person Injunction Statewide Verification System is created” bill text, line 388 →
§ 8 Penalties for Violation moderates. 784.047(1)

AIExtends the penalties for willfully violating a protective injunction to include injunctions for protection against serious violence by a known person.

“A person who willfully violates an injunction for protection against repeat violence, sexual violence, or dating violence, or serious violence by a known person” bill text, line 840 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
12/12/2025
Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Judiciary Committee
12/12/2025
Referred to Justice Budget Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
11/25/2025
Filed
1 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 784.046
+407 / −44
s. 44.407
+9 / −1
s. 61.13
+2 / −2
s. 61.1825
+10 / −1
s. 394.4597
+7 / −1
s. 394.4598
+7 / −1