Florida SB 1624: Commercial Financing Transaction Brokers and Providers

Bill Text

1624 
Harassment and Cyberstalking 
2026-01-09T07:46:37Z 
Revising the definitions of the terms “harass” and “cyberstalk”, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
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 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1624 

 By Senator Bracy Davis 

 15-01269-26 20261624__ 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act relating to harassment and cyberstalking; 
 3 amending s. 784.048, F.S.; revising the definitions of 
 4 the terms “harass” and “cyberstalk”; reenacting ss. 
 5 784.0493(1) and 1006.147(3)(e), F.S., relating to 
 6 harassment or intimidation based on religious or 
 7 ethnic heritage and bullying and harassment prohibited 
 8 in public K-12 education, respectively, to incorporate 
 9 the amendment made to s. 784.048, F.S., in references 
 10 thereto; providing an effective date. 
 11 
 12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 13 
 14 Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (1) of 
 15 section 784.048, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 
 16 784.048 Stalking; definitions; penalties.— 
 17 (1) As used in this section, the term: 
 18 (a) “Harass” means to engage in a course of conduct 
 19 directed at a specific person, whether such person is 
 20 specifically named or described in sufficient detail as to be 
 21 clearly identifiable, which causes substantial emotional 
 22 distress to that person and serves no legitimate purpose. 
 23 (d) “Cyberstalk” means: 
 24 1. To engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to 
 25 cause to be communicated, directly or indirectly, words, images, 
 26 or language by or through the use of electronic mail or 
 27 electronic communication, directed at or pertaining to a 
 28 specific person, whether such person is specifically named or 
 29 described in sufficient detail as to be clearly identifiable; or 
 30 2. To access, or attempt to access, the online accounts or 
 31 Internet-connected home electronic systems of another person 
 32 without that person’s permission, 
 33 
 34 causing substantial emotional distress to that person and 
 35 serving no legitimate purpose. 
 36 Section 2. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 
 37 made by this act to section 784.048, Florida Statutes, in a 
 38 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 784.0493, Florida 
 39 Statutes, is reenacted to read: 
 40 784.0493 Harassment or intimidation based on religious or 
 41 ethnic heritage.— 
 42 (1) As used in this section, the terms “credible threat” 
 43 and “harass” have the same meaning as in s. 784.048(1). 
 44 Section 3. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 
 45 made by this act to section 784.048, Florida Statutes, in a 
 46 reference thereto, paragraph (e) of subsection (3) of section 
 47 1006.147, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 
 48 1006.147 Bullying and harassment prohibited.— 
 49 (3) For purposes of this section: 
 50 (e) Definitions in s. 815.03 and the definition in s. 
 51 784.048(1)(d) relating to stalking are applicable to this 
 52 section. 
 53 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.