Florida HB 1353: Early Learning

Bill Text

HB 1353 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1353-00
Page 1 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to harassment and cyberstalking; 2
amending s. 784.048, F.S.; revising the definitions of 3
the terms "harass" and "cyberstalk"; reenacting ss. 4
784.0493(1) and 1006.147(3)(e), F.S., relating to 5
harassment or intimidation based on religious or 6
ethnic heritage and bullying and harassment prohibited 7
in public K-12 education, respectively; providing an 8
effective date. 9
10
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11
12
Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (1) of 13
section 784.048, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 14
784.048 Stalking; definitions; penalties.— 15
(1) As used in this section, the term: 16
(a) "Harass" means to engage in a course of conduct 17
directed at a specific person, whether such person is 18
specifically named or described in sufficient detail as to be 19
clearly identifiable, which causes substantial emotional 20
distress to that person and serves no legitimate purpose. 21
(d) "Cyberstalk" means: 22
1. To engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to 23
cause to be communicated, directly or indirectly, words, images, 24
or language by or through the use of electronic mail or 25

HB 1353 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1353-00
Page 2 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

electronic communication, directed at or pertaining to a 26
specific person, whether such person is specifically named or 27
described in sufficient detail as to be clearly identifiable; or 28
2. To access, or attempt to access, the online accounts or 29
Internet-connected home electronic systems of another person 30
without that person's permission, 31
32
causing substantial emotional distress to that person and 33
serving no legitimate purpose. 34
Section 2. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 35
made by this act to section 784.048, Florida Statutes, in a 36
reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 784.0493, Florida 37
Statutes, is reenacted to read: 38
784.0493 Harassment or intimidation based on religious or 39
ethnic heritage.— 40
(1) As used in this section, the terms "credible threat" 41
and "harass" have the same meaning as in s. 784.048(1). 42
Section 3. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 43
made by this act to section 784.048, Florida Statutes, in a 44
reference thereto, paragraph (e) of subsection (3) of section 45
1006.147, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 46
1006.147 Bullying and harassment prohibited.— 47
(3) For purposes of this section: 48
(e) Definitions in s. 815.03 and the definition in s. 49
784.048(1)(d) relating to stalking are applicable to this 50

HB 1353 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1353-00
Page 3 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

section. 51
Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 52