07/15/2026
A great summary from our partner in Clay County!
As we work to keep our neighborhoods safe, it is important that our legal system evolves alongside the challenges we face. New legislation has been signed into law to address these concerns, and moving forward, we will be bringing you regular updates on critical changes to state laws.
House Bill 2637 is a public safety package that initiates a major overhaul of various state criminal laws. While the bill covers multiple areas of crime, a few of the most significant changes focus on how first-degree sexual offenses are categorized, penalized, and prosecuted across the state.
Effective June 12, 2026, under an emergency clause, HB 2637 makes the following structural changes to first-degree r**e and first-degree so**my charges:
- Removal of the Age Cap: Previously, statutory r**e or so**my in the first degree was only labeled a "dangerous felony" if the victim was under 12 years old. HB 2637 completely removes this age limit. These crimes are now automatically classified as dangerous felonies, carrying a mandatory 85% prison service requirement, regardless of the victim's age.
- No Parole for Offenses Involving Child Victims: If a statutory r**e or so**my conviction involves a child under the age of 12, the offender completely loses eligibility for parole, resulting in a mandatory life sentence.
- Increased Class A Baseline: General first-degree r**e has been elevated to a Class A felony. This change bumps the absolute minimum prison sentence up to 10 years (previously 5 years), while aggravated variations carry life imprisonment without parole.
We will continue to track these changes to ensure you stay informed on how new state legislation impacts our community.
