What Is the “Officer Jason Raynor Act” (SB 156)?

Many people mistakenly believe that if an arrest is “unlawful” or technically groundless, they have a legal right to physically resist.

They are wrong. In 2026, the Florida legislature has effectively eliminated that defense with the passage of the Officer Jason Raynor Act (SB 156 / HB 17).

This is a massive structural shift in how Florida prosecutes resistance and violence against law enforcement.

At Drew Fritsch Law Firm, P.A., we see the fallout of these high-stakes encounters every day, and we know that the “old rules” of self-defense can now lead to a life sentence before you even reach a jury.

The Origin: A “Glitch” in the Law?

The Act is named after Daytona Beach Police Officer Jason Raynor, who was fatally shot in 2021 during a brief detention. The man responsible was convicted of manslaughter rather than first-degree murder and received a 30-year sentence, a result that outraged law enforcement advocates who argued the law provided a “loophole” for defendants to claim they were resisting an unlawful stop.

As a Punta Gorda criminal defense attorney, we’ve watched the state use this tragedy to rewrite the standards for every citizen in Florida. The Act seeks to ensure that even if an arrest is technically illegal, you cannot use force to stop it. The message from Tallahassee is clear: if you think an officer is wrong, you fight it in a courtroom later, not on the pavement today.

Major Changes Under the 2026 Law

The Officer Jason Raynor Act doesn’t just increase penalties. It changes the definitions that defense attorneys use to protect your rights. Under the new 2026 standards, the state has removed several “escape hatches” that previously allowed for more lenient sentencing.

• Mandatory life for manslaughter: Under Florida Statute 782.065, manslaughter of a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or probation officer now carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. This removes the distinction between intentional murder and unintentional manslaughter in these specific cases.
• The “good faith” standard: The law introduces a “good faith” standard under Section 776.051. If an officer is acting in good faith (meaning they made a sincere effort to comply with the law), you are prohibited from using force to resist, even if a judge later rules the arrest was unlawful.
• Reclassification of battery: Simple battery on a law enforcement officer is reclassified from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony, significantly increasing the “points” on a sentencing scoresheet.
• Expansion of protected personnel: The Act expands the list of protected individuals to include part-time, auxiliary, and correctional probation officers, ensuring that nearly any uniformed official is covered under these strict mandates.

The Act means that as long as the officer is “on the clock” and acting in good faith, your right to resist is virtually non-existent.

At Drew Fritsch Law Firm, P.A., we understand that this law places an immense burden on the individual. We work with clients to deconstruct the “good faith” claims made by officers. If the state is going to use these enhanced penalties to seek a life sentence, we are going to hold them to a rigorous standard of proof regarding the officer’s conduct during the initial interaction.

Facing Criminal Charges? We Can Help

If you are caught in a situation where things turn violent, the state is no longer looking for “context.” They are looking for a conviction that keeps you in prison for the rest of your life.

At Drew Fritsch Law Firm, P.A., we combine former-prosecutor experience with a deep commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of our clients in Southwest Florida.

If you or a loved one is facing charges for resisting arrest with violence or any offense involving a law enforcement officer, do not wait for the system to “be fair.” Call us at 941.205.3535 so we can help protect your future before the state decides it for you.

Based in Punta Gorda, Drew Fritsch Law Firm, P.A. also provides criminal defense services throughout Charlotte, Lee, Collier, and Sarasota Counties.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0782/Sections/0782.065.html