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SB 1804, sponsored by Senator Jonathan Martin (R-Fort Myers) would make the sex trafficking of children under 12 or persons who are mentally incapacitated a capital felony, which could result in a death sentence. The bill was passed by its final committee of reference, Fiscal Policy, on Tuesday, April 22 by a 15-4 vote.

HB 653, sponsored by Representative Jeff Holcomb (R-Spring Hill) was passed by the full House on Thursday, April 24 by a 99-13 vote. The measure would add a new aggravating factor if the victim was a head of state, or bystander in an attempt to kill a head of state. The bill has been sent to the Senate.

On April 8, HB 1283, sponsored by Representative Berny Jacques (R-Clear Water), was considered by the House Judiciary Committee. The bill would make sex trafficking of children under 12 or persons who are mentally incapacitated a capital felony, which could result in a death sentence.

On April 10, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice approved SB 984, sponsored by Senator Joe Gruters (R-Miami), by a 6-2 vote. In Florida, when a person is found guilty of a capital crime, in order to recommend a sentence of death, the jury must unanimously find at least two “aggravating factors,” which are listed in the Florida Statutes. This proposed legislation would add a new aggravating factor for capital felonies when the victim was gathered with one or more people for a school activity, religious activity, or public government meeting.

On April 1, SB 1804, sponsored by Senator Jonathan Martin (R-Fort Myers), was heard in the Criminal Justice Committee. Later that day, companion HB 1283, sponsored by Representative Berny Jacques (R-Clear Water), was before the Justice Budget Subcommittee. These bills would make sex trafficking of children under 12 or persons who are mentally incapacitated a capital felony, which could result in a death sentence.

HB 653, sponsored by Representative Jeff Holcomb (R-Spring Hill), would add a new aggravating factor to the list by which capital offenders may be considered eligible to be sentenced to death. The new aggravator is that the victim was a head of state, or bystander in an attempt to kill a head of state. On Wednesday, Joe Harmon, FCCB's policy coordinator, testified in opposition to the bill before the House Judiciary Committee.

On Thursday, March 13, Joe Harmon, FCCB's policy coordinator, testified in opposition to the bill before the House Judiciary Committee. "We agree that these terrible and tragic crimes are gravely evil," said Harmon. "We agree also that the state has a duty to punish offenders and protect society. However, we oppose the bill because it expands the death penalty."

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has implored Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the execution of Loran Cole and commute his sentence to life without the possibility of parole. Cole is scheduled to be executed on August 29 for the 1994 murder of John Edwards. He was also convicted of robbing, kidnapping and assaulting Mr. Edwards’ sister.