Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 7063 into law on Monday. The new legislation, which takes effect on July 1, prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from working in adult entertainment establishments. The bill also introduces a series of measures designed to bolster the state’s efforts in combating human trafficking.

Although aimed at exotic dancers, some are questioning the wording of the bill, wondering how it affects adult content being produced in Florida. This particular aspect of the bill is still being investigated.

Governor DeSantis signed the bill during a news conference held at Granada Church in Coral Gables. The law, he claims, is part of a broader initiative to protect vulnerable populations and ensure businesses comply with regulations aimed at preventing human trafficking.

“This legislation will help better protect the most vulnerable in our communities,” DeSantis stated. “It will ensure that if businesses are not complying with these very modest, reasonable requirements, whether knowingly or unknowingly, they will be held accountable. And of course, anybody actively involved in human trafficking will have the book thrown at them in the state of Florida.”

HB 7063 introduces several key provisions, including:

• Age Restriction: Prohibits the employment of individuals under 21 in adult entertainment establishments.
• Awareness Requirements: Mandates the display of human trafficking awareness signs at Florida rest area service plazas, emergency rooms, strip clubs, massage parlors, and other potential trafficking sites.
• State Contracts: Require entities to contract with the state to ensure they do not use coerced labor.
• Increased Penalties: Establishes harsher punishments for businesses that violate these regulations, particularly those employing minors in adult entertainment roles.

Additionally, the bill extends the lifetime of the statewide council on human trafficking within Florida’s Department of Legal Affairs, ensuring continuous focus on combating this issue.

In conjunction with signing HB 7063, Governor DeSantis announced a significant financial commitment to furthering anti-trafficking efforts. The state’s budget will include $4.9 million to expand access to emergency beds for trafficking survivors and to enhance staffing for prevention initiatives. An additional $900,000 grant program will support law enforcement through increased staffing and training.

Earlier this month, DeSantis also approved HB 197, allocating over $1 million to combat sex trafficking, specifically within massage establishments. This measure funds eight full-time positions at the Florida Department of Health to handle the anticipated increase in complaints and expands the conditions under which the agency can suspend licenses of massage therapists or establishments.

Last year, DeSantis signed a series of bills targeting human trafficking. These laws increased penalties for traffickers, set mandatory minimum sentences for traffickers discharging firearms, and allowed victims to recover damages from adult entertainment establishments.

They also mandated hotels to comply with human trafficking awareness laws, with substantial fines for non-compliance.

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