HB 1517, sponsored by Representative Sam Greco, (R-Palm Coast) achieved final passage in the House on April 9 by a 79-32 vote. The bill would allow parents to recover monetary damages, including medical and funeral expenses as well as payment for mental pain and suffering, from a person who is responsible for the unborn child’s death. The wrongful act could occur, for example, during a car accident, due to an incident of medical malpractice, or by other careless, neglectful actions of another.

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.

This week marks the 2025 National Crime Victims' Rights Week, an annual commemoration recognizing the widespread need for victim-centered responses to harm, crime, and violence. Catholic Mobilizing Network has gathered resources to help us find solidarity with victims and survivors of crime, as well as choose life over death and healing over revenge.