HB0229 • 2026

Violation of State Immigration Law

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Jacques ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Barnaby
Last action: 2026-03-13
Official status: House - Died in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
Effective date: 2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on the implementation and funding of the compensation program beyond fines collected from law enforcement agencies.

Violations of State Immigration Law

This bill requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to impose fines on local law enforcement agencies that violate state immigration laws and establishes a program for compensating victims harmed by unauthorized aliens.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to impose a $10,000 fine on any local law enforcement agency that violates certain sections of the immigration law.
Specifies that fines collected must be used to provide compensation to victims harmed by unauthorized aliens.
Defines 'unauthorized alien' and allows FDLE to develop a program to compensate residents who have suffered harm from such individuals.
Creates legal action against local governmental entities or law enforcement agencies with sanctuary policies if they fail to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, leading to the death of someone due to an unauthorized alien's actions.
Waives state sovereign immunity for liability in cases where a failure by local government or law enforcement to comply with federal immigration laws allows an unauthorized alien to cause harm.

Who It Names or Affects

Law enforcement agencies that violate state immigration laws will face fines.
Victims harmed by unauthorized aliens may receive compensation through the FDLE program.
Local governmental entities and law enforcement agencies with sanctuary policies could be sued if they do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Terms To Know

Unauthorized alien: A person who is in the United States without proper authorization or documentation.
Sanctuary policy: A policy by local governments not to enforce federal immigration laws, often allowing unauthorized immigrants to remain without fear of deportation.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the compensation program will be funded beyond fines collected from law enforcement agencies.
It is unclear how many victims would qualify for compensation under this new program.
The effectiveness and implementation details of the compensation program are not detailed in the summary.

Bill History

2026-03-13 House
• Died in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
2026-01-13 House
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2025-10-28 House
• Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee • Referred to Justice Budget Subcommittee • Referred to Judiciary Committee • Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
2025-10-21 House
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Violation of State Immigration Law ; Requires FDLE to impose fine for certain violations; requires moneys be used for specified purpose; defines "unauthorized alien"; authorizes department to develop program to compensate certain persons; provides requirements to receive compensation; defines "unauthorized alien"; creates cause of action against certain local governmental entities & law enforcement agencies; requires plaintiff to prove certain elements by preponderance of evidence; provides that state waives sovereign immunity for liability in certain circumstances.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB 229 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to violation of state immigration law; 2
providing a short title; amending s. 908.11, F.S.; 3
requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to impose 4
a fine for certain violations; requiring the moneys be 5
used for a specified purpose; creating s. 908.14, 6
F.S.; defining the term "unauthorized alien"; 7
authorizing the department to develop a program to 8
compensate certain persons; providing requirements to 9
receive compensation; requiring the department to 10
develop rules; creating s. 908.15, F.S.; defining the 11
term "unauthorized alien"; creating a cause of action 12
against certain local governmental entities and law 13
enforcement agencies; requiring the plaintiff to prove 14
certain elements by a preponderance of the evidence; 15
providing that the state waives sovereign immunity for 16
liability in certain circumstances; amending s. 17
768.28, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by 18
the act; providing an effective date. 19
20
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 21
22
Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Shane Jones Act." 23
Section 2. Subsection (3) is added to section 908.11, 24
Florida Statutes, to read: 25

HB 229 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

908.11 Immigration enforcement assistance agreements; 26
reporting requirement; penalty.— 27
(3) The Department of Law Enforcement shall impose a fine 28
of $10,000 against a law enforcement agency for each violation 29
of this section. The department shall use the moneys collected 30
from these fines to provide compensation to victims of 31
unauthorized aliens pursuant to s. 908.14. 32
Section 3. Section 908.14, Florida Statutes, is created to 33
read: 34
908.14 Compensation for victims of unauthorized aliens.— 35
(1) As used in this section, the term "unauthorized alien" 36
has the same meaning as in s. 908.111(1). 37
(2) The Department of Law Enforcement may develop a 38
program to compensate residents of this state who have suffered 39
harm caused by an unauthorized alien. 40
(3) In order to be eligible for compensation under this 41
section: 42
(a) The act or omission which caused the harm must have 43
occurred in this state on or after July 1, 2026. 44
(b) The preponderance of the evidence must show that an 45
unauthorized alien materially contributed to the harm for which 46
compensation is sought. 47
(c) The person seeking compensation must complete a form 48
prescribed by the Department of Law Enforcement. 49
(4) The Department of Law Enforcement shall develop rules 50

HB 229 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

to administer this section. 51
Section 4. Section 908.15, Florida Statutes, is created to 52
read: 53
908.15 Cause of action for wrongful death caused by an 54
unauthorized alien.— 55
(1) As used in this section, the term "unauthorized alien" 56
has the same meaning as in s. 908.111(1). 57
(2) The estate of a person killed by an unauthorized alien 58
has a cause of action against: 59
(a) A local governmental entity or law enforcement agency 60
that has a sanctuary policy in violation of s. 908.103. 61
(b) A law enforcement agency in violation of s. 908.11 or 62
in violation of the agreement required under that section. 63
(3) A plaintiff must show by a preponderance of the 64
evidence that a failure by a local governmental entity or law 65
enforcement agency to cooperate or fully comply with federal 66
immigration authorities or with an immigration detainer allowed 67
an unauthorized alien to have materially contributed to the 68
decedent's death. 69
(4) Notwithstanding s. 768.28, and in accordance with s. 70
13, Art. X of the State Constitution, the state waives sovereign 71
immunity for liability for torts under this section. 72
Section 5. Subsection (21) is added to section 768.28, 73
Florida Statutes, to read: 74
768.28 Waiver of sovereign immunity in tort actions; 75

HB 229 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

recovery limits; civil liability for damages caused during a 76
riot; limitation on attorney fees; statute of limitations; 77
exclusions; indemnification; risk management programs.— 78
(21) This section does not apply to actions brought under 79
s. 908.15. 80
Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 81