Florida Senate - 2026                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 890
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì842756DÎ842756                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
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       The Committee on Criminal Justice (Martin) recommended the
       following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Section 784.031, Florida Statutes, is amended to
    6  read:
    7         784.031 Battery by strangulation.—
    8         (1) A person commits battery by strangulation if he or she
    9  knowingly and intentionally, against the will of another person,
   10  impedes the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of that
   11  person so as to create a risk of or cause great bodily harm by
   12  applying pressure on the throat or neck of the other person or
   13  by blocking the nose or mouth of the other person. This
   14  subsection does not apply to any act of medical diagnosis,
   15  treatment, or prescription which is authorized under the laws of
   16  this state.
   17         (2) A person who violates subsection (1) commits a felony
   18  of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
   19  775.083, or s. 775.084.
   20         Section 2. Section 784.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   21  read:
   22         784.041 Felony battery; domestic battery by strangulation.—
   23         (1) A person commits felony battery if he or she:
   24         (a) Actually and intentionally touches or strikes another
   25  person against the will of the other; and
   26         (b) Causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or
   27  permanent disfigurement.
   28         (2)(a) A person commits domestic battery by strangulation
   29  if the person knowingly and intentionally, against the will of
   30  another, impedes the normal breathing or circulation of the
   31  blood of a family or household member or of a person with whom
   32  he or she is in a dating relationship, so as to create a risk of
   33  or cause great bodily harm by applying pressure on the throat or
   34  neck of the other person or by blocking the nose or mouth of the
   35  other person. This paragraph does not apply to any act of
   36  medical diagnosis, treatment, or prescription which is
   37  authorized under the laws of this state.
   38         (b) As used in this subsection, the term:
   39         1. “Family or household member” has the same meaning as in
   40  s. 741.28.
   41         2. “Dating relationship” means a continuing and significant
   42  relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.
   43         (3) A person who commits felony battery or domestic battery
   44  by strangulation commits a felony of the third degree,
   45  punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
   46         Section 3. Paragraphs (d) and (f) of subsection (3) of
   47  section 921.0022, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   48         921.0022 Criminal Punishment Code; offense severity ranking
   49  chart.—
   50         (3) OFFENSE SEVERITY RANKING CHART
   51         (d) LEVEL 4
   52  
   53  FloridaStatute             FelonyDegree        Description        
   54  104.155                        3rd     Unqualified noncitizen electors voting; aiding or soliciting noncitizen electors in voting.
   55  499.0051(1)                    3rd     Failure to maintain or deliver transaction history, transaction information, or transaction statements.
   56  499.0051(5)                    2nd     Knowing sale or delivery, or possession with intent to sell, contraband prescription drugs.
   57  517.07(1)                      3rd     Failure to register securities.
   58  517.12(1)                      3rd     Failure of dealer or associated person of a dealer of securities to register.
   59  784.031                        3rd     Battery by strangulation.  
   60  784.07(2)(b)                   3rd     Battery of law enforcement officer, firefighter, etc.
   61  784.074(1)(c)                  3rd     Battery of sexually violent predators facility staff.
   62  784.075                        3rd     Battery on detention or commitment facility staff.
   63  784.078                        3rd     Battery of facility employee by throwing, tossing, or expelling certain fluids or materials.
   64  784.08(2)(c)                   3rd     Battery on a person 65 years of age or older.
   65  784.081(3)                     3rd     Battery on specified official or employee.
   66  784.082(3)                     3rd     Battery by detained person on visitor or other detainee.
   67  784.083(3)                     3rd     Battery on code inspector. 
   68  784.085                        3rd     Battery of child by throwing, tossing, projecting, or expelling certain fluids or materials.
   69  787.03(1)                      3rd     Interference with custody; wrongly takes minor from appointed guardian.
   70  787.04(2)                      3rd     Take, entice, or remove child beyond state limits with criminal intent pending custody proceedings.
   71  787.04(3)                      3rd     Carrying child beyond state lines with criminal intent to avoid producing child at custody hearing or delivering to designated person.
   72  787.07                         3rd     Human smuggling.           
   73  790.115(1)                     3rd     Exhibiting firearm or weapon within 1,000 feet of a school.
   74  790.115(2)(b)                  3rd     Possessing electric weapon or device, destructive device, or other weapon on school property.
   75  790.115(2)(c)                  3rd     Possessing firearm on school property.
   76  794.051(1)                     3rd     Indecent, lewd, or lascivious touching of certain minors.
   77  800.04(7)(c)                   3rd     Lewd or lascivious exhibition; offender less than 18 years.
   78  806.135                        2nd     Destroying or demolishing a memorial or historic property.
   79  810.02(4)(a)                   3rd     Burglary, or attempted burglary, of an unoccupied structure; unarmed; no assault or battery.
   80  810.02(4)(b)                   3rd     Burglary, or attempted burglary, of an unoccupied conveyance; unarmed; no assault or battery.
   81  810.06                         3rd     Burglary; possession of tools.
   82  810.08(2)(c)                   3rd     Trespass on property, armed with firearm or dangerous weapon.
   83  810.145(3)(b)                  3rd     Digital voyeurism dissemination.
   84  812.014(2)(c)3.                3rd     Grand theft, 3rd degree $10,000 or more but less than $20,000.
   85  812.014 (2)(c)4. & 6.-10.      3rd     Grand theft, 3rd degree; specified items.
   86  812.014(2)(d)2.                3rd     Grand theft, 3rd degree; $750 or more taken from dwelling or its unenclosed curtilage.
   87  812.014(2)(e)3.                3rd     Petit theft, 1st degree; less than $40 taken from dwelling or its unenclosed curtilage with two or more prior theft convictions.
   88  812.0195(2)                    3rd     Dealing in stolen property by use of the Internet; property stolen $300 or more.
   89  817.505(4)(a)                  3rd     Patient brokering.         
   90  817.563(1)                     3rd     Sell or deliver substance other than controlled substance agreed upon, excluding s. 893.03(5) drugs.
   91  817.568(2)(a)                  3rd     Fraudulent use of personal identification information.
   92  817.5695(3)(c)                 3rd     Exploitation of person 65 years of age or older, value less than $10,000.
   93  817.625(2)(a)                  3rd     Fraudulent use of scanning device, skimming device, or reencoder.
   94  817.625(2)(c)                  3rd     Possess, sell, or deliver skimming device.
   95  828.125(1)                     2nd     Kill, maim, or cause great bodily harm or permanent breeding disability to any registered horse or cattle.
   96  836.14(2)                      3rd     Person who commits theft of a sexually explicit image with intent to promote it.
   97  836.14(3)                      3rd     Person who willfully possesses a sexually explicit image with certain knowledge, intent, and purpose.
   98  837.02(1)                      3rd     Perjury in official proceedings.
   99  837.021(1)                     3rd     Make contradictory statements in official proceedings.
  100  838.022                        3rd     Official misconduct.       
  101  839.13(2)(a)                   3rd     Falsifying records of an individual in the care and custody of a state agency.
  102  839.13(2)(c)                   3rd     Falsifying records of the Department of Children and Families.
  103  843.021                        3rd     Possession of a concealed handcuff key by a person in custody.
  104  843.025                        3rd     Deprive law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer of means of protection or communication.
  105  843.15(1)(a)                   3rd     Failure to appear while on bail for felony (bond estreature or bond jumping).
  106  843.19(2)                      2nd     Injure, disable, or kill police, fire, or SAR canine or police horse.
  107  847.0135(5)(c)                 3rd     Lewd or lascivious exhibition using computer; offender less than 18 years.
  108  870.01(3)                      2nd     Aggravated rioting.        
  109  870.01(5)                      2nd     Aggravated inciting a riot.
  110  874.05(1)(a)                   3rd     Encouraging or recruiting another to join a criminal gang.
  111  893.13(2)(a)1.                 2nd     Purchase of cocaine (or other s. 893.03(1)(a), (b), or (d), (2)(a), (2)(b), or (2)(c)5. drugs).
  112  914.14(2)                      3rd     Witnesses accepting bribes.
  113  914.22(1)                      3rd     Force, threaten, etc., witness, victim, or informant.
  114  914.23(2)                      3rd     Retaliation against a witness, victim, or informant, no bodily injury.
  115  916.1085 (2)(c)1.              3rd     Introduction of specified contraband into certain DCF facilities.
  116  934.215                        3rd     Use of two-way communications device to facilitate commission of a crime.
  117  944.47(1)(a)6.                 3rd     Introduction of contraband (cellular telephone or other portable communication device) into correctional institution.
  118  951.22(1)(h), (j) & (k)        3rd     Intoxicating drug, instrumentality or other device to aid escape, or cellular telephone or other portable communication device introduced into county detention facility.
  119  
  120         (f) LEVEL 6
  121  
  122  FloridaStatute              FelonyDegree        Description        
  123  316.027(2)(b)                    2nd     Leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury.
  124  316.193(2)(b)                    3rd     Felony DUI, 4th or subsequent conviction.
  125  316.1935(4)(a)                   2nd     Aggravated fleeing or eluding.
  126  327.30(5)(a)3.                   2nd     Vessel accidents involving serious bodily injury; leaving scene.
  127  400.9935(4)(c)                   2nd     Operating a clinic, or offering services requiring licensure, without a license.
  128  499.0051(2)                      2nd     Knowing forgery of transaction history, transaction information, or transaction statement.
  129  499.0051(3)                      2nd     Knowing purchase or receipt of prescription drug from unauthorized person.
  130  499.0051(4)                      2nd     Knowing sale or transfer of prescription drug to unauthorized person.
  131  775.0875(1)                      3rd     Taking firearm from law enforcement officer.
  132  784.021(1)(a)                    3rd     Aggravated assault; deadly weapon without intent to kill.
  133  784.021(1)(b)                    3rd     Aggravated assault; intent to commit felony.
  134  784.031                          3rd     Battery by strangulation. 
  135  784.041                          3rd     Felony battery; domestic battery by strangulation.
  136  784.048(3)                       3rd     Aggravated stalking; credible threat.
  137  784.048(5)                       3rd     Aggravated stalking of person under 16.
  138  784.07(2)(c)                     2nd     Aggravated assault on law enforcement officer.
  139  784.074(1)(b)                    2nd     Aggravated assault on sexually violent predators facility staff.
  140  784.08(2)(b)                     2nd     Aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older.
  141  784.081(2)                       2nd     Aggravated assault on specified official or employee.
  142  784.082(2)                       2nd     Aggravated assault by detained person on visitor or other detainee.
  143  784.083(2)                       2nd     Aggravated assault on code inspector.
  144  787.02(2)                        3rd     False imprisonment; restraining with purpose other than those in s. 787.01.
  145  787.025(2)(a)                    3rd     Luring or enticing a child.
  146  790.115(2)(d)                    2nd     Discharging firearm or weapon on school property.
  147  790.161(2)                       2nd     Make, possess, or throw destructive device with intent to do bodily harm or damage property.
  148  790.164(1)                       2nd     False report concerning bomb, explosive, weapon of mass destruction, act of arson or violence to state property, or use of firearms in violent manner.
  149  790.19                           2nd     Shooting or throwing deadly missiles into dwellings, vessels, or vehicles.
  150  794.011(8)(a)                    3rd     Solicitation of minor to participate in sexual activity by custodial adult.
  151  794.05(1)                        2nd     Unlawful sexual activity with specified minor.
  152  800.04(5)(d)                     3rd     Lewd or lascivious molestation; victim 12 years of age or older but less than 16 years of age; offender less than 18 years.
  153  800.04(6)(b)                     2nd     Lewd or lascivious conduct; offender 18 years of age or older.
  154  806.031(2)                       2nd     Arson resulting in great bodily harm to firefighter or any other person.
  155  810.02(3)(c)                     2nd     Burglary of occupied structure; unarmed; no assault or battery.
  156  810.145(8)(b)                    2nd     Digital voyeurism; certain minor victims; 2nd or subsequent offense.
  157  812.014(2)(b)1.                  2nd     Property stolen $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000, grand theft in 2nd degree.
  158  812.014(2)(c)5.                  3rd     Grand theft; third degree; firearm.
  159  812.014(6)                       2nd     Theft; property stolen $3,000 or more; coordination of others.
  160  812.015(9)(a)                    2nd     Retail theft; property stolen $750 or more; second or subsequent conviction.
  161  812.015(9)(b)                    2nd     Retail theft; aggregated property stolen within 120 days is $3,000 or more; coordination of others.
  162  812.015(9)(d)                    2nd     Retail theft; multiple thefts within specified period.
  163  812.015(9)(e)                    2nd     Retail theft; committed with specified number of other persons and use of social media platform.
  164  812.13(2)(c)                     2nd     Robbery, no firearm or other weapon (strong-arm robbery).
  165  817.4821(5)                      2nd     Possess cloning paraphernalia with intent to create cloned cellular telephones.
  166  817.49(2)(b)2.                   2nd     Willful making of a false report of a crime resulting in death.
  167  817.505(4)(b)                    2nd     Patient brokering; 10 or more patients.
  168  817.5695(3)(b)                   2nd     Exploitation of person 65 years of age or older, value $10,000 or more, but less than $50,000.
  169  825.102(1)                       3rd     Abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult.
  170  825.102(3)(c)                    3rd     Neglect of an elderly person or disabled adult.
  171  825.1025(3)                      3rd     Lewd or lascivious molestation of an elderly person or disabled adult.
  172  825.103(3)(c)                    3rd     Exploiting an elderly person or disabled adult and property is valued at less than $10,000.
  173  827.03(2)(c)                     3rd     Abuse of a child.         
  174  827.03(2)(d)                     3rd     Neglect of a child.       
  175  827.071(5)                       3rd     Possess, control, or intentionally view any photographic material, motion picture, etc., which includes child pornography.
  176  828.126(3)                       3rd     Sexual activities involving animals.
  177  836.05                           2nd     Threats; extortion.       
  178  836.10                           2nd     Written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.
  179  843.12                           3rd     Aids or assists person to escape.
  180  847.011                          3rd     Distributing, offering to distribute, or possessing with intent to distribute obscene materials depicting minors.
  181  847.012                          3rd     Knowingly using a minor in the production of materials harmful to minors.
  182  847.0135(2)                      3rd     Facilitates sexual conduct of or with a minor or the visual depiction of such conduct.
  183  893.131                          2nd     Distribution of controlled substances resulting in overdose or serious bodily injury.
  184  914.23                           2nd     Retaliation against a witness, victim, or informant, with bodily injury.
  185  918.13(2)(b)                     2nd     Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence relating to a capital felony.
  186  944.35(3)(a)2.                   3rd     Committing malicious battery upon or inflicting cruel or inhuman treatment on an inmate or offender on community supervision, resulting in great bodily harm.
  187  944.40                           2nd     Escapes.                  
  188  944.46                           3rd     Harboring, concealing, aiding escaped prisoners.
  189  944.47(1)(a)5.                   2nd     Introduction of contraband (firearm, weapon, or explosive) into correctional facility.
  190  951.22(1)(i)                     3rd     Firearm or weapon introduced into county detention facility.
  191  
  192         Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
  193  
  194  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  195  And the title is amended as follows:
  196         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  197  and insert:
  198                        A bill to be entitled                      
  199         An act relating to felony battery; amending s.
  200         784.031, F.S.; revising the elements of the offense of
  201         battery by strangulation to delete creating a risk of
  202         or causing great bodily harm to another; amending s.
  203         784.041, F.S.; revising the elements of the offense of
  204         domestic battery by strangulation to delete creating a
  205         risk of or causing great bodily harm to another;
  206         amending s. 921.0022, F.S.; reclassifying the offense
  207         of battery by strangulation for the purposes of the
  208         offense severity ranking chart of the Criminal
  209         Punishment Code; providing an effective date.