FL H1049

Expands the existing threats and harassment statute (s. 836.12) to cover general magistrates, special magistrates, child support enforcement hearing officers, administrative assistants, and clerk personnel, making knowingly threatening these individuals with death or serious bodily harm a first-degree misdemeanor (third-degree felony for repeat offenses)

Creates a new crime of "tampering with a court official" (s. 918.12) for knowingly using intimidation, physical force, threats, misleading conduct, or pecuniary offers to cause a court official to obstruct justice or affect an investigation/proceeding, with penalties scaled from third-degree felony up to life felony based on the severity of the underlying case

Creates a new crime of "harassing a court official" (s. 918.12) for intentionally harassing a court official in a way that hinders or dissuades them from attending proceedings, rendering a fair verdict, or following juror rules, with penalties similarly scaled to the severity of the affected proceeding

Creates a new crime of "retaliating against a court official" (s. 918.125) for threatening bodily injury or damaging property in retaliation for a court official's participation in an investigation or proceeding, classified as a third-degree felony or a second-degree felony if bodily injury results

Defines "court official" broadly to include judges, justices, magistrates, grand and petit jurors, clerks, deputy clerks, judicial assistants, administrative assistants, attorneys, child support enforcement hearing officers, bailiffs, and court deputies; takes effect October 1, 2025