H 1353

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    HB 1353  2026
1A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to harassment and cyberstalking;
3amending s. 784.048, F.S.; revising the definitions of
4the terms "harass" and "cyberstalk"; reenacting ss.
5784.0493(1) and 1006.147(3)(e), F.S., relating to
6harassment or intimidation based on religious or
7ethnic heritage and bullying and harassment prohibited
8in public K-12 education, respectively; providing an
9effective date.
10
11Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13Section 1.       Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (1) of
14section 784.048, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
15784.048      Stalking; definitions; penalties.—
16(1)      As used in this section, the term:
17(a)      "Harass" means to engage in a course of conduct
18directed at a specific person, whether such person is
19specifically named or described in sufficient detail as to be
20clearly identifiable, which causes substantial emotional
21distress to that person and serves no legitimate purpose.
22(d)      "Cyberstalk" means:
231.      To engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to
24cause to be communicated, directly or indirectly, words, images,
25or language by or through the use of electronic mail or
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 HB 1353  2026
26    electronic communication, directed at or pertaining to a
27    specific person, whether such person is specifically named or
28    described in sufficient detail as to be clearly identifiable; or
292.      To access, or attempt to access, the online accounts or
30    Internet-connected home electronic systems of another person
31    without that person's permission,
32
33    causing substantial emotional distress to that person and
34    serving no legitimate purpose.
35Section 2.        For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
36    made by this act to section 784.048, Florida Statutes, in a
37    reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 784.0493, Florida
38    Statutes, is reenacted to read:
39784.0493        Harassment or intimidation based on religious or
40    ethnic heritage.—
41(1)      As used in this section, the terms "credible threat"
42    and "harass" have the same meaning as in s. 784.048(1).
43Section 3.        For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
44    made by this act to section 784.048, Florida Statutes, in a
45    reference thereto, paragraph (e) of subsection (3) of section
46    1006.147, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
471006.147        Bullying and harassment prohibited.—
48(3)      For purposes of this section:
49(e)      Definitions in s. 815.03 and the definition in s.
50    784.048(1)(d) relating to stalking are applicable to this
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 HB 1353  2026
51    section.
52Section 4.       This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
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