Florida committee advances bill to expand domestic-violence protections, including GPS monitoring and larger relocation grants

Members of the Florida House Criminal Justice Subcommittee advanced a package of changes aimed at strengthening protections for domestic-violence victims on PCS for HB 277. Representative Deborah Tendridge said the measure would give courts and law enforcement stronger tools, including court-ordered GPS monitoring paid by the respondent when a protective injunction is violated or there is clear, convincing evidence of a credible threat to the victim.

The bill’s sponsor and supporters framed the measure as a practical, victim-centered set of reforms. Tendridge said the bill also increases penalties for offenders with prior convictions by one degree, allows military protective orders to be used as evidence in civilian injunction proceedings, adds questions to petitions about threats to pets and service animals, and raises a victim relocation allowance from $1,500 to $2,500 to reflect current housing costs.

Public testimony included extended remarks from Jenny Carter, who said she had lost two children to domestic violence and urged lawmakers to give victims more effective protections. "I am here today because I lost my children to domestic violence," Carter told the committee, describing repeated violations of restraining orders and saying monitoring and stronger enforcement could have made a difference. Advocates from the Animal Legal Defense Fund and other groups also supported the bill, citing gaps that the measure seeks to close.

Committee members broadly praised the sponsor’s work and committed to continuing oversight as the bill moves forward. The subcommittee reported PCS for HB 277 favorably by voice vote, 16 yeas, 0 nays. The bill will next proceed to additional committee consideration or the House calendar according to legislative process.