SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/HB 623

Felony Battery
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SPONSOR
Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Gentry
FILED BY
Richard Gentry — District 27, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/CS/SB 436 — CS/HB 623 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Felony Battery; Provides enhanced criminal penalties for persons who commit subsequent battery after having prior conviction for resisting officer with violence.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Expands felony battery penalties to include prior resisting officer convictions.

The bill adds a new trigger for enhanced felony battery penalties. A person with a prior conviction for resisting an officer with violence now faces felony charges for a subsequent battery.

This change removes the previous limitation that restricted the enhanced penalty to prior convictions for battery, aggravated battery, or felony battery only.

The definition of "conviction" is clarified to include cases where adjudication is withheld or a nolo contendere plea is entered.

The effective date is July 1, 2026, meaning these enhanced penalties apply to offenses committed on or after that date.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Expanded prior-conviction list for felony battery majors. 784.03(2)

AIAdds a new qualifying prior offense to the list that triggers felony battery charges.

“resisting an officer with violence under s. 843.01” bill text, line 18 →
§ 2 Clarified definition of conviction moderates. 784.03(2)

AIExplicitly defines 'conviction' to include cases where adjudication is withheld or a nolo contendere plea is entered.

“regardless of whether adjudication is withheld or a plea of nolo contendere is entered” bill text, line 24 →
§ 3 Revised trigger language moderates. 784.03(2)

AIChanges the trigger from 'second or subsequent' to 'subsequent' battery, aligning with the expanded prior-conviction list.

“commits any subsequent battery”
TIMELINE
3/10/2026
Laid on Table; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 436 (Ch. 2026-149 )
1/27/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
1/27/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
1/27/2026
Reported out of Judiciary Committee
1/27/2026
Favorable 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
Added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda
12/12/2025
Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Judiciary Committee
12/12/2025
Referred to Justice Budget Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee
12/3/2025
Filed
19 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 784.03
+11 / −3
s. 784.03
+0 / −0
s. 943.0584
+0 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES