More than 20 new state laws take effect today, ranging from increased criminal penalties for restraining and abandoning animals during natural disasters to a ban on the sale and use of license plate flippers.

Laws can take effect immediately upon being signed, on July 1 with the start of the state’s fiscal year, on Oct. 1, or even on Jan. 1.

Many of the laws that take effect today change the state’s criminal or civil statutes.

Here are some of the more interesting statutory changes the Legislature passed in the spring and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law that take effect today.

SB 150 Trooper’s Law

The story of how Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Orlando Morales found an abandoned dog along Interstate 75 as Hurricane Milton advanced tugged at heartstrings and made headlines.

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