The Committee on Criminal Justice of the Florida State Legislature convened on March 11, 2025, to discuss several key legislative items, primarily focusing on Senate Bill 1198 concerning fraudulent use of gift cards.

Senator DeSigli presented the bill, highlighting the growing issue of gift card fraud affecting consumers, retailers, and manufacturers across Florida. He noted that the bill aims to address this problem by streamlining definitions related to fraudulent activities and aligning penalties with existing theft statutes.

The committee reviewed a "delete all" amendment, identified by barcode 651406, which was designed to clarify the bill's language and enhance its effectiveness. Senator DeSigli explained that the amendment would include provisions for instances where fraudsters deceive consumers through false pretenses. Following this, the committee considered a technical amendment to the amendment, which added language regarding tampering with gift cards or their packaging.

After discussing the amendments, the committee received support from various stakeholders, including representatives from the Florida Retail Federation and the AARP, who waived in support of the bill. No opposition was noted during the discussions.

Senator DeSigli closed the debate by urging the committee members to support the bill, describing it as long overdue. The committee then proceeded to a roll call vote, resulting in a unanimous favorable report for CS for SB 1198.

The meeting concluded with the committee moving on to the next agenda item, indicating a productive session focused on addressing significant issues related to consumer protection and fraud prevention in Florida.