http://jacksonville.com/news/florida...ffect-thursday

SENATE BILL 318

The new law

Concerned by reports of pythons beginning to take over the Florida wild, the Legislature cracked down on the sale and ownership of pythons and other “reptiles of concern,” essentially banning them except in limited cases. The measure also encourages the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to update the list, including the possibility of adding iguanas or other reptiles to that list. The law is aimed largely at pythons and other large snakes that have gotten loose in Florida.

What supporters said

The invasive reptile species could be fatal to humans in some cases and wreak havoc on the state’s ecosystem.

What opponents said

The Legislature should have given relatively recent laws more time to work and might be going too far with the new law. Even some Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff members were hesitant about the bill.