SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/SB 890

Felony Battery
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SPONSOR
Criminal Justice; Martin
FILED BY
Jonathan Martin — District 33, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Felony Battery; Revising the elements of the offense of battery by strangulation to delete creating a risk of or causing great bodily harm to another; revising the elements of the offense of domestic battery by strangulation to delete creating a risk of or causing great bodily harm to another; reclassifying the offense of battery by strangulation for the purposes of the offense severity ranking chart of the Criminal Punishment Code, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Removes the injury requirement for felony strangulation charges.

The felony battery by strangulation statute no longer requires that the act create a risk of or cause great bodily harm. The offense is complete upon the intentional act of impeding breathing or circulation.

The same injury requirement is removed from the domestic battery by strangulation statute. Prosecutors can now charge this offense without proving any risk of serious injury to the victim.

The offense severity ranking chart is updated to reflect these changes, placing the revised battery by strangulation offense in the third-degree felony category.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Removes injury requirement from battery by strangulation majors. 784.031(1)

AIThe offense now covers any intentional act that impedes breathing or circulation, regardless of whether it causes or risks great bodily harm.

“so as to create a risk of or cause great bodily harm” bill text, line 22 →
§ 2 Removes injury requirement from domestic battery by strangulation majors. 784.041(1)(a)

AIDomestic battery by strangulation no longer requires proof of great bodily harm or a risk thereof to be established.

“so as to create a risk of or cause great bodily harm” bill text, line 22 →
§ 3 Reclassifies battery by strangulation in the Criminal Punishment Code majors. 921.0022(3)(d)

AIBattery by strangulation is moved from the 3rd-degree felony list to the 2nd-degree felony list, increasing the maximum potential sentence.

“784.031 3rd Battery by strangulation” bill text, line 70 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
1/22/2026
CS by Criminal Justice read 1st time
1/22/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
1/21/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
1/20/2026
CS by Criminal Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
1/15/2026
On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 01/20/26, 3:30 pm, 37...
1/13/2026
Introduced
12/16/2025
Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations Committee on Criminal...
12/12/2025
Filed
3 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 784.031
+0 / −12
s. 784.041
+0 / −13
s. 921.0022
+5 / −5
STAFF ANALYSES