Uthmeier says he’ll push to increase criminal penalties for poaching next legislative session

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced plans to advocate for harsher criminal penalties for poaching during the next legislative session. Current penalties for poaching are mostly misdemeanors, but proposed changes would elevate penalties to third-, second-, or first-degree felonies based on factors like location and repeat offenses. Florida Land Council Chair Joshua Kellem highlighted that repeat poachers often face minimal consequences.