There are several new laws that take effect Wednesday.
The bills were signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott after the 2014 legislative session.
Among the most talked about new laws is one upgrading requirements for commercial parasailing operations. The new law came about after the death of a woman and a teenager in separate parasailing accidents.
Another high profile new law calls for people who attack pregnant women to be charged with crimes against unborn children - regardless of the term of the pregnancy.
There are also new, harsher penalties for burglars who cross county lines to commit break-ins.
All totaled, 32 laws are going into effect today in Florida.
Here's a look at some other high-profile laws taking effect today:
Sex offenses and human trafficking:
SB 526 and 528 include wide-ranging changes aimed at cracking down on sex offenders, including toughening sentences and strengthening registration and reporting requirements for offenders. The laws are part of a package of new laws targeting sexual predators and offenders, with two other laws, SB 522 and SB 524, going into effect July 1.
HB 989 increases felony penalties for people who live off the proceeds of others through prostitution or when crimes involve the trafficking of children. The measure also removes a statute of limitations for human trafficking violations, prohibits minors from working in adult theaters and requires adult theaters to verify the ages of all employees. The law also creates a new third-degree felony for those who permanently brand trafficking victims.
Law enforcement:
HB 41 creates the Florida Law Enforcement Officers’ Hall of Fame. The law requires space to be set aside in the first floor plaza of the Capitol for the hall, joining wall space used for the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame, Fallen Firefighters Wall of Honor, Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame, Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame, Florida’s Medal of Honor recipients, and the Florida Artists Hall of Fame.
HB 427 increases the penalty for burglars who cross county lines to commit break-ins. The law was crafted in response to the so-called “pillowcase burglars” in Martin County, where Sheriff William Snyder, a former state representative, noted an increase in people traveling Interstate 95 to break into homes and quickly flee to other counties.
Education:
HB 485 increases penalties for teachers and other school authority figures who take advantage of students sexually.
Public records:
HB 115 allows university direct-support organization boards to meet in private when they discuss donors or potential donors, proposals for research funding or plans for initiating or supporting research.
Pharmacies:
HB 7077 sets registration requirements and standards for what are known as “compounding pharmacies” that are located in other states but sell medications in Florida. Those pharmacies, in general, create medications that are supposed to be tailored to the needs of individual patients. The law is aimed at preventing a repeat of a 2012 outbreak of fungal meningitis because of problems at a Massachusetts pharmacy.