New Florida Mental Health Diversion Law, The Tristin Murphy Act, Due To Take Effect

On October 1, 2025, a new Florida law, the “Tristin Murphy Act,” was due to go into effect to create diversion pathways for people with mental illnesses as an alternative to incarceration. Under this law, counties and municipalities can establish misdemeanor mental health diversion programs and pretrial felony diversion programs, routing people into care.

The Act expands the focus of the Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant Program to veteran treatment court programs and emergency responder training, according to the state. For individuals with a history of incompetency adjudications, it requires mental health evaluations before being placed . . .