Law restricting the use of social media by minors and other laws come into force on January 1st

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Nine new laws in Florida take effect on January 1, 2025.

CBS 12 News has compiled a list of bills that are close to becoming law, based on a compilation of all the measures passed last session.

Online protection for minors – HB 3

House Bill 3 imposes restrictions on certain minors and prohibits them from creating social media accounts. According to the bill’s description, it will require social media platforms to take measures to close such accounts and prevent the underage population from maintaining accounts in the future.

The bill passed overwhelmingly, with House Speaker Paul Renner of Palm Coast taking priority.

CBS Miami explained that the bill aims to prevent children under 16 from opening social media accounts, at least on some platforms – although parents could allow 14- and 15-year-olds to open accounts. Children under 14 could not open accounts.

Private Activity Bonds – SB 7054

House Bill 7054 revises Part VI of the Private Activity Bonds and, according to the Florida Senate, provides the legislative intent to maximize the annual use of private activity bonds to finance improvements, projects and programs that serve public purposes and the social and economic Welfare benefits Floridians.

The bill also consolidates bond application pools into a single pool available to all bonds except those issued to finance affordable housing projects.

See also: WATCH: Suspect shot by officers after swinging sword around children in Central Florida

Voter Registration Applications – HB 135

Voter registration applications (HB 135) are an exception to the requirement that voter registration applicants be registered without party affiliation. This requires the department to ensure that information technology processes and updates do not alter certain information without written consent.

Voters can only change their party affiliation if they decide and agree to the change in writing, eliminating errors for residents when renewing their driver’s license.

Building Codes – HB 267

House Bill 267 amends 553.73 of the Florida Building Code to not require sealed drawings for replacement of windows, doors, or garage doors in existing single-family, two-family, or townhomes when:

• Installation is carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions for the wind zone.
• They meet the design pressure requirements
• A copy of the manufacturer’s instructions must be enclosed with the approval application
• The replacements are the same size and installed in the same opening as the existing window, door or garage door.

Florida Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act – HB 1093

The Florida Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act revises the provisions of the Florida Uniform Principal & Income Act governing trusts, estates, life estates, and other temporary interests.

According to the Florida Senate, Florida HB 1093:

• Determination of the duties of a trustee.
• Requires that the allocation, determination, or exercise of a trustee’s discretion is deemed to be fair and reasonable to all beneficiaries.
• Authorizes a trustee to exercise its administrative authority as it sees fit in certain circumstances.
• to prohibit a court from ordering a trustee to change its decision unless the decision constituted an abuse of its discretionary power.

Obstructing, threatening or harassing first responders – SB 184

According to the Florida House of Representatives, SB 184 prohibits a person, after receiving a warning from a first responder engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, from not approaching, violating that warning, and approaching a certain distance or to stay within a certain distance, the first responder with a specific intention, etc.

Medical Treatment Under the Workers’ Compensation Act – SB 362

The new law increases the caps on witness fees charged to certain witnesses. Increase in maximum reimbursement amounts for doctors and surgical procedures.

Protection of certain adults – HB 135

SB 556 provides additional protections for certain adults (an individual age 65 or older or a vulnerable adult) who have accounts at financial institutions and may be victims of suspected financial exploitation, according to language in the Florida Senate.

The bill allows financial institutions to delay withdrawals or transactions of funds from a specified adult’s account under the following conditions:

• The Financial Institution reasonably believes that financial exploitation of the specified adult has occurred, is occurring, has been attempted, or will be attempted in connection with the withdrawal or transaction.
• The financial institution must promptly initiate an internal review of the facts and circumstances that led the employee to reasonably believe that financial exploitation of the specified adult has occurred, is occurring, has been attempted, or will be attempted.
• No later than three business days after the date on which the delay was first discovered, the Financial Institution will provide written notice of the reason for the delay to all parties authorized to transact business on the account and to all trusted contacts on the account using the contact form regarding the account details , unless the financial institution employee believes that one of the parties is involved in the alleged exploitation.
• A delay in a withdrawal or transaction expires after 15 business days and can be extended for an additional 30 business days. A court of competent jurisdiction may shorten or lengthen the duration of any delay.
• The financial institution must develop and implement training policies or programs that are reasonably designed to educate certain employees about issues related to the financial exploitation of certain adults. In addition, the financial institution must develop, maintain, and enforce written procedures for the manner in which suspected financial exploitation is internally reviewed, including, where applicable, the manner in which suspected financial exploitation is to be reported to regulatory personnel.
• The financial institution must create and retain a written or electronic record of the specified information for at least five years from the date of the late withdrawal or transaction.

Dental Insurance Claims – SB 892

Florida HB 892 prohibits a contract between a health insurer and a dentist from containing certain limitations on payment methods. The Florida Senate says it will also prohibit a health insurance company from charging a fee for sending a payment to a dentist through the Automated Clearing House (ACH).

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