Part ofcriminal justice →

HB 429FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026passed_both

Passed

New Legal Criteria for Identifying Criminal Gang Members

Original title: Criteria for Determining Criminal Gang Membership

June 17, 2026

criminal justice law enforcement criminal procedure gang activity criminal procedure and corrections

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Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently passed_both. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Signed.

Last action

Ordered enrolledMar 10, 2026

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

These changes directly impact how law enforcement and courts classify individuals as gang members, which can influence sentencing enhancements and criminal charges for defendants.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Criminal defendants

The updated definitions change the criteria used to determine if they are classified as criminal gang members.

Law enforcement agencies

These agencies must apply the new legal definitions when investigating and documenting gang-related activity.

What changed

Current stage: passed_both.

What's next

Signed.

Summary

This bill updates the legal definition of a '' and establishes a formal definition for '' used in criminal proceedings.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

These changes directly impact how law enforcement and courts classify individuals as gang members, which can influence sentencing enhancements and criminal charges for defendants.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this bill change?

It updates the criteria used to define who is considered a '' and defines what constitutes '' under the law.

Who is affected by these definitions?

Individuals involved in criminal proceedings where gang affiliation is a factor, as well as law enforcement and judicial officials applying these definitions.

News Coverage

Center1

Right1

2 sources

Blind spot - no left-leaning coverage

More Bills Signed into Law By Gov. DeSantis

Florida Daily — Florida GovernmentJun 25, 2026

DeSantis Signs Law Enforcement Bills

Central Florida Public Media WMFE (Politics)Jun 17, 2026

Bias ratings based on AllSides / Media Bias/Fact Check

Voting Record

Motion succeededupper3/10/2026openstates_bulkOfficial roll call ↗

Third Reading

Total

Yes

Present

Not Voting

Abstain

How they voted (39)

+ 15 more

Motion succeededlower2/4/2026openstates_bulkOfficial roll call ↗

Passage, Third Reading

Total

117

Yes

100

Present

Not Voting

Abstain

How they voted (117)

+ 93 more

Full roll-call analysis →

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Standardization of Gang Terminology

The bill moves toward formalizing 'gang-related language' as a distinct legal category, likely to standardize evidence in criminal trials.

HB 429

Connected Entities

otherFlorida Statutes Map →

organizationJudiciary Committee Map →

organizationFlorida Legislature Map →

organizationCriminal Justice Subcommittee Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy50
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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