STATE NEWS BRIEFS
Black history museum; increasing penalties
Sen. Darryl Rouson[flsenate.gov]
Senate signs off on Museum of Black History
In a unanimous vote, the Senate recently approved a proposal (SB 308) that would recognize the designation of St. Johns County for the Florida Museum of Black History.
St. Petersburg Democratic Sen. Darryl Rouson said the museum will “ensure that future generations do not inherit fragments of history.”
“This museum will serve students searching for identity, scholars seeking understanding, and tourists seeking the truth,” Rouson added. “We have been entrusted with the stewardship of this public memory and citizens seeking connection. Florida’s Black history is rich, complex, resilient and indispensable.”
The Senate unanimously passed a similar bill during the 2025 session, but the House did not approve it.
As lawmakers have reached the mid-point of this year’s 60-day legislative session, an identical House bill (HB 525) has not been heard.
Lawmakers created a task force in 2023 to provide recommendations for a Black history museum. The task force eventually recommended putting the museum on a site west of St. Augustine that formerly housed Florida Memorial University. Other sites were considered in Eatonville and Opa-locka.
The proposal would also set up a 13-member board of directors for the museum.
Bill increasing penalties for child sex offenses gets House panel OK
The House Justice Budget Subcommittee unanimously advanced a bill on Feb. 12 that would increase penalties for sexual offenses against children.
The bill (HB 1159), sponsored by Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Seminole, reclassifies child pornography offenses, such as moving the use of a child in a sexual performance from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony and requiring a mandatory minimum 15-year prison sentence.
It would also expand the definition of child pornography in law as a content with at least one image of a child who is younger than 12. Previously, the age was 5.
Rep. Mike Gottlieb, D-Davie, asked about a “Romeo and Juliet issue” with the bill. That refers to provisions that would prohibit teenagers with a small age gap, often two to four years, who engage in a consensual sexual relationship from being prosecuted as adults.
“There might be an avenue where we can make it much more clear so those who are in that situation are not unfairly treated,” Jacques responded. “We will consider any amendment.”
The bill has one more committee hurdle, the House Judiciary Committee, before making it to the House floor.
The Senate version of the bill (SB 1750) has passed through one committee and has two more committee hearings in that chamber.
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