Florida Toughens Child Abuse Penalties to Include AI Crimes

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed two bills on March 31, 2026, intended to strengthen legal protections for children and increase criminal penalties for sexual predators and the production of artificial intelligence-generated abuse material.

The legislation, which includes HB 1159 and HB 445, introduces mandatory minimum sentences and upgrades several offenses to higher-degree felonies. The measures specifically target the exploitation of children and the evolving threat of digitally synthesized abuse content.

Expansion of Criminal Penalties for Child Exploitation

HB 1159, sponsored by Representative Berny Jacques of District 59, implements a comprehensive overhaul of how the state penalizes child sexual abuse. A primary change in the legislation is the replacement of the term child pornography with child sexual abuse material throughout Florida statutes. This change was made to align with United States Justice Department policy and to more accurately reflect the trauma and abuse depicted in such images and videos.

The bill significantly increases the penalties for adults who use children in sexual performances. This crime has been upgraded from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony, now carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years. In cases where the child was under the age of 12 at the time of the offense, the crime is now classified as a life felony with a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years.

Further penalties established under HB 1159 include:

• The knowing creation or distribution of child sexual abuse material is now a second-degree felony.
• Engaging in sexual contact with an animal is classified as a second-degree felony.
• The ownership of a child-like sex doll has been upgraded from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.

Crackdown on AI-Generated Abuse Material

The legislation specifically addresses the rise of artificial intelligence used to create exploitative content. HB 1159 increases the penalty for the creation of AI-generated child sexual abuse material, moving it from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony.

the law creates a new second-degree felony for any individual who knowingly transmits AI-generated child sexual abuse material. These measures are part of a broader effort by Florida lawmakers to target the digital exploitation of children through synthesized media.

Implementation of Missy’s Law

The second piece of legislation signed on March 31, 2026, is HB 445, often referred to as Missy’s Law. This measure requires judges to remand defendants to custody immediately following a conviction for specific sexual offenses.

Governor DeSantis stated that the law was inspired by the death of a young girl named Missy. According to the governor, Missy’s stepfather had been released on bail after a conviction before he killed the child.

If we had this bill in place, then Missy would be alive today. That’s just a fact.

Governor Ron DeSantis

Law Enforcement Response and Context

The signing of the bills took place during a news conference at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Tampa Bay Regional Operations. Governor DeSantis was joined by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass.

During the event, Attorney General Uthmeier reported that the state has conducted more than 1,400 arrests of child predators within the past year. Uthmeier asserted that Florida’s leadership is taking more aggressive action against individuals who intend to harm children than any other state.

The legislative process for these measures began in early 2026, with the Senate approving the sweeping changes on March 8, 2026, following approval by the House the previous week.