Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed eight bills into law on Friday, including a crackdown on unruly sports fans and an update to wine sales regulations.
One of the key measures, HB 1447, imposes third-degree felony charges on individuals who unlawfully enter or remain at large events with over 5,000 attendees. The law, effective immediately, responds to chaos at the 2024 Copa America final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. During the match between Argentina and Colombia, thousands of unauthorized fans stormed past security, delaying the game by nearly 90 minutes. More than two dozen people were arrested, including the Colombian Soccer Federation’s president and his son. Some ticket-holders, including a family who flew in from San Francisco, were left outside and have joined a class action lawsuit.
Another new law, SB 578, set to take effect July 1, will broaden the types of wine containers allowed for retail sale. Previously, only reusable containers could hold up to 5.16 gallons. The change now permits any container of that size, expanding options for both sellers and consumers.
The bills reflect lawmakers’ focus on public safety and modernizing regulations in response to real-world events.
