Florida HB 277: New DV Injunction Factors (July 2026)

Florida HB 277 takes effect July 1, 2026, expanding the risk factors judges may weigh when granting domestic violence injunctions and lowering the threshold for felony penalties on repeat injunction violations. Signed as Chapter 2026-86, it adds pet threats and military protective orders to the factors under F.S. §741.30 and reclassifies a second injunction violation as a third-degree felony.

The News Hook

Governor Ron DeSantis signed CS/CS/HB 277, the Domestic Violence and Protective Injunctions Act, into law on May 21, 2026. It becomes Chapter 2026-86, Laws of Florida, and takes effect July 1, 2026. The measure cleared both chambers of the Florida Legislature without a single opposing vote, a rare moment of total agreement in an otherwise divided session.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Debra Tendrich of Lake Worth, who has publicly described herself as a survivor of domestic violence, alongside Rep. Danny Nix of Wauchula, with Sen. Alexis Calatayud carrying the Senate companion. The legislation was framed as a survivor-driven effort to close enforcement gaps and give victims more tools to leave dangerous situations safely.

For anyone facing a Florida divorce where safety is a concern, HB 277 changes both how a judge evaluates a petition for protection and what happens to a respondent who violates an order.

What HB 277 Actually Does

The law touches four main areas relevant to family law.

New injunction risk factors

Under F.S. §741.30, a judge weighing whether to grant a domestic violence injunction already considers factors like prior threats, a history of violence, and access to weapons. HB 277 adds two new considerations a court may weigh:

• Whether the respondent has threatened to injure or kill a family pet, service animal, or emotional support animal.
• The existence of a military protective order.

The pet provision recognizes a pattern domestic violence advocates have documented for years: threats against animals are frequently used to coerce and control a victim. The military protective order provision formally defines those orders in Florida law and requires law enforcement notification to the agency that entered the order into the National Crime Information Center database when both a qualifying injunction and a military protective order appear to be violated.

Tougher penalties for repeat violators

HB 277 lowers the threshold for felony enhancement. Previously, it took multiple prior convictions before a subsequent injunction violation was reclassified upward. Under the new law, the number of prior convictions needed before a subsequent violation is reclassified to a third-degree felony drops from two to one. A second or subsequent violation against the same victim can now be treated as a third-degree felony. A prior domestic violence conviction, including one resulting from a guilty plea or a withheld adjudication, can be used to reclassify a future offense to a higher degree.

Electronic monitoring pilot programs

The law creates two GPS monitoring pilot programs running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. A misdemeanor program operates in Pinellas County under the sheriff, and a felony program operates in the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Pinellas and Pasco counties) under the Florida Department of Corrections. Courts must order monitoring when there is clear and convincing evidence a defendant poses a threat of violence or physical harm to the victim, with GPS exclusion zones established and the respondent responsible for paying for the monitoring.

Expanded protections and relocation assistance

The Department of Law Enforcement must now include dating violence and sexual violence injunctions in the statewide verification system used by criminal justice agencies. The maximum one-time relocation assistance payment for eligible domestic violence victims rises from $1,500 to $2,500, and the lifetime maximum increases from $3,000 to $5,000.

Legal Implications for Florida Divorce Cases

Domestic violence and divorce intersect constantly in Florida family law. A domestic violence injunction under F.S. §741.30 is a separate civil proceeding from a dissolution of marriage, but the two often run on parallel tracks. An injunction can establish temporary exclusive use of the marital home, set temporary time-sharing terms, and shape the entire posture of a contested case.

HB 277's expanded risk factors give petitioners additional, legally recognized grounds a court may consider. A spouse who has threatened a family pet now has conduct that the statute explicitly invites a judge to weigh. That matters in a state where the burden and evidentiary standards for injunctions are frequently litigated.

The parenting plan consequences are significant. Florida's time-sharing framework under F.S. §61.13 requires courts to consider evidence of domestic violence when determining a parenting plan and the best interests of the child. An injunction granted on the strength of HB 277's new factors becomes part of the record a court evaluates. This is not about custody in the old sense; Florida uses time-sharing and parenting plans, and a documented history of domestic violence can rebut the statutory presumption that shared parental responsibility serves the child's best interests.

Florida-Specific Analysis

Florida has steadily tightened its family law framework in recent years. The 2023 alimony reform under SB 1416 eliminated permanent alimony and restructured F.S. §61.08. The 2026 session continued that pattern of legislative attention to family matters, though notably the SB 1128 effort to require faster time-sharing enforcement hearings stalled, as covered in our analysis of SB 1128.

HB 277 stands apart because it passed unanimously. Where time-sharing enforcement remains contested terrain, domestic violence protection drew bipartisan consensus. For Florida residents, the practical upshot is that the tools for obtaining and enforcing protection are now stronger, while the framework for resolving an uncontested, amicable divorce remains unchanged.

That distinction is the heart of the matter. An uncontested divorce assumes two spouses who agree on the terms and are both willing to sign. A case involving an active domestic violence injunction is, by definition, not that. HB 277 does not change how a peaceful, agreed dissolution works under F.S. §61.052. It changes the landscape for cases where one spouse needs protection from the other.

Practical Takeaways for Florida Residents

If safety is a factor in your separation, HB 277 is directly relevant. A few points worth understanding:

• The injunction process is separate from divorce. You can petition for a domestic violence injunction under F.S. §741.30 whether or not a divorce is filed, and there is no filing fee for the petition.
• The new pet-threat and military protective order factors are considerations a judge may weigh, not automatic grounds. Each petition is decided on its own facts.
• Penalties for violating an injunction are now harsher sooner. A respondent who violates an order against the same victim faces felony exposure faster than under prior law.
• An injunction can affect time-sharing. Courts evaluate domestic violence evidence when building a parenting plan under F.S. §61.13.

For couples who genuinely agree and are both willing to proceed, an uncontested divorce remains the fastest and most affordable path. Our firm handles Florida uncontested divorces for a flat $750 attorney fee, the same price with or without minor children. If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, our guide on uncontested versus contested divorce and our overview of whether you need a lawyer can help you understand your options.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233.

The Bottom Line

Florida HB 277 strengthens domestic violence protections effective July 1, 2026, by expanding the risk factors judges may consider and lowering the threshold for felony penalties on repeat violations. For divorcing spouses where safety is a concern, the law provides additional recognized grounds for protection and harsher consequences for violators. For amicable, uncontested divorces, nothing about the day-to-day process changes. Understanding which category your situation falls into is the first step toward the right approach.

Sources

• Florida Senate, House Bill 277 (2026)
• Florida Senate Bill Summary, Domestic Violence and Protective Injunctions
• CBS12, New Florida law toughens domestic violence penalties