What You Need to Know About Senate Bill 150 and How a Florida Trooper’s Law Defense Lawyer Can Protect Your Rights

Florida is no stranger to hurricanes, wildfires, and declared states of emergency. These events create enormous stress for families, and many times people scramble to protect their homes, their children, and their pets. In 2025, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 150, known as Trooper’s Law, which elevates leaving an animal chained or restrained during a declared emergency to a felony offense.

As a Florida criminal defense attorney, I have represented clients across the state who never thought they would face prison time or a permanent felony record because of how they handled a storm. Trooper’s Law changes the landscape of animal cruelty charges by specifically targeting situations that occur during natural disasters or other official emergencies. If you are accused under this law, you are not just facing criticism from your neighbors, you are facing prosecutors determined to make an example out of your case.

Understanding Trooper’s Law (Senate Bill 150)

Trooper’s Law was enacted in honor of “Trooper,” a dog that tragically died after being left chained during a hurricane. The law is part of Florida’s broader effort to protect animals during disasters, but the wording has serious criminal consequences for pet owners.

The statute provides:

“A person who knowingly leaves a dog, cat, or other domestic animal chained, tethered, caged, or otherwise restrained and unattended outdoors during a state of emergency declared by the Governor commits a felony of the third degree.”

Under Florida law, a third-degree felony is punishable by up to five years in prison, five years of probation, and a $5,000 fine. In addition, a conviction can carry collateral consequences such as loss of civil rights, damage to professional licenses, and being permanently listed in criminal databases.

How Trooper’s Law Fits With Existing Florida Animal Cruelty Statutes

Trooper’s Law adds a specific emergency-related offense to existing statutes such as:

  • Florida Statute §828.12 – Prohibits tormenting, depriving, or unnecessarily punishing animals. A violation can be a first-degree misdemeanor or a third-degree felony if the act results in death or significant injury.

  • Florida Statute §828.13 – Known as the confinement statute, it prohibits keeping animals in an enclosure without sufficient food, water, or protection.

By enacting Trooper’s Law, the legislature created a situation where prosecutors may charge you with both traditional cruelty statutes and the new felony offense. Without strong legal defense, you could be facing stacked charges.

Why Intent and Circumstances Matter

The law uses the phrase “knowingly leaves.” That wording is critical. Prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you intentionally left your animal restrained outdoors during the declared emergency. This is where many defenses begin.

What if you evacuated quickly and did not have the ability to transport your pet? What if you arranged for a neighbor to check in and the neighbor failed? What if the emergency order was declared while you were at work and you physically could not get home? These are real situations that happen every hurricane season in Florida.

I make it my job to show the court and prosecutors the full picture of what happened, because intent and circumstances matter.

Defenses to Trooper’s Law Charges

As a Florida Trooper’s Law Defense Lawyer, I analyze every angle of your case. Common defenses may include:

  • Lack of Knowledge – You were not aware that a state of emergency had been declared, or you did not know your animal was restrained when you left.

  • Impossibility – Circumstances made it impossible to remove your animal, such as mandatory evacuation routes being closed, transportation breakdowns, or sudden illness.

  • Caretaker Reliance – You arranged for a caretaker, family member, or neighbor to look after your pet, but they failed to perform their duty.

  • Mistaken Identity – Law enforcement misidentified your property or animal as being left behind when in fact it belonged to someone else.

  • Constitutional Violations – Unlawful searches, lack of warrants, or improper seizure of animals can form the basis of suppression motions.

In addition, I look for procedural errors in how law enforcement documents the conditions, photographs the scene, and applies the emergency order. Many of these cases rely on quick assumptions that can be challenged in court.

Real Case Example

A client of mine faced felony charges for leaving two dogs tethered during a hurricane evacuation. Neighbors reported the situation to authorities. The truth was that my client had arranged for his adult son to pick up the dogs, but road closures delayed him. By the time officers arrived, the son was already en route but was turned away by deputies blocking the street.

The prosecution wanted prison time, citing Trooper’s Law. We gathered evacuation order records, text message logs, and testimony from the son. We showed the jury that my client had made reasonable arrangements and did not “knowingly” abandon his animals. The result was a full dismissal of the felony charge. My client avoided a prison sentence, saved his record, and kept custody of his dogs.

This case illustrates why having a private defense attorney makes the difference. Public perception might label you as cruel, but the courtroom requires proof and context.

Why You Need a Private Criminal Defense Attorney

Trooper’s Law is new, which means prosecutors may aggressively enforce it to set an example. Without strong defense, you risk being the case they point to in press releases. A private defense attorney gives you the advantage of:

  • Time and resources to investigate evacuation orders, weather reports, and communications.

  • The ability to call expert witnesses on animal care, veterinary science, or emergency management.

  • Personalized strategy to humanize you before a judge or jury, rather than letting the state paint you as careless.

I fight for reduced charges, probationary outcomes, diversion programs, or outright dismissals whenever possible. You do not have to face this alone.

Long-Term Consequences of a Conviction

Beyond the risk of prison, a felony conviction under Trooper’s Law carries lasting harm:

  • Permanent felony record visible to employers, landlords, and licensing boards.

  • Potential loss of professional licenses in fields such as nursing, teaching, or law enforcement.

  • Restrictions on firearm ownership under federal law.

  • Public labeling as an “animal abuser,” which may appear in local news or online databases.

By hiring a defense attorney early, you improve your chance of resolving the case before these consequences become permanent.

Florida Trooper’s Law Defense Frequently Asked Questions

What is Trooper’s Law and why is it a felony?
Trooper’s Law, also called Senate Bill 150, makes it a third-degree felony to knowingly leave a dog, cat, or other domestic animal chained, caged, or otherwise restrained outside during a declared state of emergency. The state raised the penalty to felony level after high-profile cases of animals suffering or dying during hurricanes. A conviction can mean up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Hiring a Florida Trooper’s Law Defense Lawyer ensures that your side of the story is presented fully and fairly.

Does Trooper’s Law apply if I left town before the emergency was declared?
If you left your home before the Governor issued the official state of emergency, that timing can be a defense. Prosecutors must show you knowingly left your pet restrained after the declaration. Records such as receipts, travel logs, or employer schedules can prove you were already gone. A Florida Trooper’s Law Defense Lawyer can use that evidence to challenge the charge.

What if I tried to evacuate my pet but conditions stopped me?
Emergencies move quickly. Roads may close, shelters may refuse animals, or your car may break down. If you can show you intended to rescue your pet but circumstances made it impossible, that defense can lead to reduced charges or dismissal. An attorney will help gather proof such as road closure orders, shelter admission policies, or witness testimony.

Will I lose custody of my animals if I am charged?
In many cases, law enforcement seizes the animals and places them with shelters or rescue groups during the case. If convicted, you may be barred from owning animals for a period of time. A Florida Trooper’s Law Defense Lawyer can petition for the return of your pets, argue for continued ownership, or negotiate alternatives that keep your family together.

Can prosecutors also charge me with other crimes?
Yes. Trooper’s Law often appears alongside animal cruelty charges under §828.12 or confinement charges under §828.13. That means you could be facing multiple felony counts from the same incident. Without an attorney, you may not know how to negotiate for dismissals or consolidations.

How do judges treat first-time offenders under this law?
Judges in Florida may consider diversion programs, probation, or community service for first-time offenders, but only if the case is presented with strong mitigation. Prosecutors will argue for harsh penalties to set an example, so it takes a defense lawyer to balance the scales.

What if law enforcement entered my property without a warrant?
If officers entered private property without a valid warrant or without exigent circumstances, evidence gathered may be suppressed. That can result in the case being thrown out. A Florida Trooper’s Law Defense Lawyer reviews every step officers took to ensure your rights were not violated.

Do I really need a private attorney if this is my first charge?
Absolutely. Even if you think the judge will be lenient, a felony conviction is permanent. Without private defense, you risk prison, fines, and long-term stigma. An attorney can push for dismissal, reduction to a misdemeanor, or non-criminal resolutions.

 

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Musca Law, P.A. has a team of experienced criminal defense attorneys dedicated to defending people charged with a criminal or traffic offense. We are available 24/7/365 at 1-888-484-5057 for your FREE consultation. We have over 30 office locations throughout all of the state of Florida and serve all counties in Florida including Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Hialeah, Port St. Lucie, Cape Coral, Tallahassee, Fort Lauderdale, and the Florida Panhandle.