What's Changing in Florida Law: July 1, 2026

Key updates for Florida residents and business owners

Published by Kogan Law | Updated June 2026

Below, we've pulled out the changes most likely to matter to you and your business. This is a high-level summary written for a general audience — not legal advice — but it's a useful starting point for understanding what's new and where you may want to take action.

The Big Picture

The 2026 session produced new rules across a wide range of areas: transportation, education, public safety, health care, the environment, local government, property and development, and consumer and business matters. Most of these laws were signed by Governor DeSantis in the spring of 2026 and share a common effective date of July 1, 2026. A handful of high-profile changes — most notably Florida's new Protected Series LLC framework — were passed in an earlier session but were written to take effect on this same date.

We've organized the highlights into two buckets: changes for business owners, and changes that affect families and everyday consumers.

For Business Owners

If you own or operate a business in Florida, several of this year's changes are worth a close look — one in particular could reshape how you hold assets and manage risk.

• Protected Series LLCs arrive in Florida (SB 316; Fla. Stat. §§ 605.2101–605.2802). This is the headline business-law change. Florida's new "Uniform Protected Series Provisions" let a single LLC create one or more "protected series" under one umbrella — each a legally distinct sub-unit with its own members, managers, interests, and assets. To establish a series, the parent LLC needs the unanimous consent of its members and must file a "protected series designation" with the Florida Department of State. Done correctly, the debts and liabilities of one series can be enforced only against that series' own assets — not against the parent LLC or other series. Each series' name must start with the parent LLC's name and include "protected series," "P.S.," or "PS." It's a tool real estate investors and multi-venture owners have long used in states like Delaware. Two important caveats: the liability shield holds only if each series keeps meticulous, separate records, and no LLC may create a protected series before the July 1, 2026 effective date.

• New deadline to sue under the Florida Civil Rights Act (Ch. 760). Employers and employees get a clearer litigation clock: an employee must file a civil action under the Florida Civil Rights Act by the earlier of one year after the Florida Commission on Human Relations issues a reasonable-cause determination, or the issuance of an EEOC Right to Sue notice. Worth noting for anyone handling workplace discrimination claims.

• Florida trademark law modernized (HB 679). State trademark classifications are brought in line with federal standards, and the state is required to offer an online application system — making it easier and more consistent to protect a brand at the state level.

• Protected cell captive insurance (HB 883). Creates a framework for "protected cell" captive insurance companies in Florida, giving larger businesses another option for managing and self-insuring certain risks.

• Secure e-signatures for insurance (HB 961). Requires secure electronic signature procedures for certain insurance transactions — part of a broader move toward standardized, verifiable digital paperwork.

• Tougher penalties for unlicensed engineering (SB 800). Establishes escalating fines for repeat unlicensed engineering violations, raising the stakes for firms operating outside licensing rules.

• Building permits and commercial glazing (HB 803). Limits local regulation of commercial glazing and updates permit expiration rules — relevant for contractors, developers, and commercial property owners.

• No local "net-zero" mandates (HB 1217). Prohibits state and local governments from adopting or enforcing net-zero greenhouse gas policies, affecting how municipalities can regulate businesses on emissions.

For Families and Everyday Consumers

Other changes are aimed squarely at the public — patients, pet owners, drivers, students, and victims of domestic violence.

• Stronger domestic violence protections (HB 277). Increases criminal penalties for repeat domestic violence offenders and raises relocation assistance available to victims. A related measure (SB 296) directs a study on a domestic and dating violence 911 alert system. Separately, Florida's sentencing rules now apply a 1.5x point multiplier when a domestic violence offense is committed in the presence of a child under 16 who is a household member — a meaningful enhancement for cases involving child witnesses.

• Chiropractic upfront-payment cap removed (SB 192). Eliminates the previous $1,500 limit on advance payments a chiropractic physician may collect — something patients should be aware of before signing payment agreements.

• New pet-purchase protections (SB 1004). Adds consumer protections for buying a pet, including financing disclosures and veterinary record requirements — helpful if you're buying from a breeder or pet store.

• Right to a written prescription from your vet (HB 89). Veterinarians must tell clients they may request a written prescription and fill it at the pharmacy of their choice, potentially lowering costs for pet medications.

• More oversight of pharmacy benefit managers (HB 697). Adds restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers and pharmacy reimbursements, part of an ongoing effort to address prescription drug pricing.

• Eyewear insurance expanded (SB 772). Expands portable electronics insurance licensing to include eyewear insurance — a small but practical consumer change.

• Driving without a valid license counts toward "habitual offender" status (HB 35). Adds driving without a valid license to the offenses that can contribute to habitual traffic offender designation, which carries serious license consequences.

• More flexible high school graduation paths (HB 453). Allows certain students — including students with disabilities — to substitute qualifying activities for P.E. and performing-arts credit requirements. A revised version of Florida's standard-diploma statute also takes effect this year.

What This Means for You

Many of these laws are straightforward, but a few — especially the Protected Series LLC framework — carry real planning and compliance implications. If structured properly, the right entity choices can protect your assets and reduce risk; if handled carelessly, the protections can evaporate. The same is true for businesses navigating new licensing, insurance, and permitting rules, and for families weighing new healthcare and consumer options.

Have questions about how these changes affect you or your business?

The attorneys at The Kogan Firm, P.A. help Florida individuals and businesses understand new laws and put the right protections in place. If you'd like to review your business structure, an agreement, or how any of these updates apply to your situation, we're here to help.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation: contact us. We'll give you straight answers, not a sales pitch.