Florida House Bill 35, known as “Isaiah’s Law,” is set to take effect July 1. The measure passed the Florida Legislature during the 2026 session.
The story behind the law
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Rep. Webster Barnaby, R-Deltona, named the bill in honor of Isaiah, an 18-year-old motorcycle rider from Hillsborough County who was killed in a hit-and-run crash in December 2024.
According to Barnaby, the suspect was driving a white sedan without a valid license on the day of the fatal collision. When police investigated, they discovered the driver had a history of six previous citations for driving without a license.
What the law does
Under existing Florida law, a person can be designated a habitual traffic offender if they rack up three or more convictions for serious driving offenses within a five-year period. Those offenses have historically included failing to stop and render aid after a crash involving death or injury and driving with a disqualified commercial license.
Isaiah’s Law adds a new category to that list: driving a motor vehicle without a valid license in violation of Section 322.03 of the Florida Statutes. Under the new law, three or more such convictions within five years can now trigger a habitual traffic offender designation.
Why it matters
A habitual traffic offender designation in Florida carries serious consequences — including mandatory license revocation. Supporters of the bill argue that repeat unlicensed drivers pose a public safety risk and deserve the same scrutiny as other repeat offenders under state law.