DeSantis Signs 6 Key Bills, Tops 34 New Florida Laws

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed six bills into law during a news conference in The Villages, bringing the total enacted this 2026 session to 34, with over 100 passed by lawmakers still pending his action and roughly 200 more in play.[1][3] Among the latest batch, House Bill 991, filed by Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R-Fort Myers), mandates U.S. citizenship verification for voter registration, paper ballots for all elections and disclosure of stock trading by congressional candidates.[3] DeSantis highlighted the bill's election security measures, including voter oaths with perjury penalties and legal status on driver's licenses.[3] Senate Bill 212 bans sex offenders convicted of crimes against children 16 or younger from living within 1,000 feet of public swimming pools, effective April 1.[1] SB 246 approves five new specialty license plates: Ultimate Fighting Championship, Miami Northwestern Alumni Association, Outsider, St. Petersburg College and First Responders Resiliency, effective July 1 or Oct. 1 depending on provisions.[1][5] Other recent signings include HB 399 on development regulations, requiring permit fees tied to processing costs and compatibility factors for residential uses, effective immediately; and SB 572 expanding public ethics definitions to include foster parents and children.[2][3] Health-focused laws include HB 1443 creating a statewide Parkinson’s disease registry at the Florida Institute for Parkinson’s Disease at USF, with physician reporting required from Jan. 1, 2027, and companion HB 1445 exempting patient data until 2031.[2] SB 844 mandates sickle cell disease pain treatment in controlled substance education, while SB 628 honors Naval Air Station Pensacola attack victims by renaming part of State Road 295 in Escambia County as Warrior Sacrifice Way.[2][5] These laws, many effective July 1, address Florida-specific issues from Miami Beach resorts to Pensacola memorials amid a session producing sweeping changes in zoning, agriculture and public safety.[1][4][5]