Florida 2023 3rd Special Session

Florida House Bill H0021 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
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2	2
3	3	HB 21C 2023C
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6	6
7	7	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
8	8	hb0021c-00
9	9	Page 1 of 45
10	10	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
11	11
12	12
13	13
14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to housing; providing a short title; 2
16	16	creating s. 20.71, F.S.; creating the Department of 3
17	17	Housing and Tenant Rights as a new department of state 4
18	18	government; providing for the secretary of the 5
19	19	Department of Housing and Tenant Rights to be 6
20	20	appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate; 7
21	21	providing duties of the secretary; providing the 8
22	22	purpose of the department; requiring a report on the 9
23	23	implementation of an empty homes tax be provided to 10
24	24	the Governor and Legislature by a specified date; 11
25	25	providing government reorganization for certain 12
26	26	chapters of law; amending s. 83.43, F.S.; revising 13
27	27	definitions; creating s. 83.455, F.S.; providing 14
28	28	requirements for rental agreements; requiring 15
29	29	landlords to provide certain information with rental 16
30	30	agreements; amending s. 83.46, F.S.; requiring that a 17
31	31	landlord provide written notice of a rent increase to 18
32	32	a tenant by a specified time; requiring such notice to 19
33	33	include an option for mediation under certain 20
34	34	circumstances; amending s. 83.47, F.S.; providing that 21
35	35	certain provisions in a rental agreement are void and 22
36	36	unenforceable; amending s. 83.49, F.S.; removing the 23
37	37	option for a landlord to deposit certain money into a 24
38	38	non-interest-bearing account; revising written notice 25
39	39
40	40	HB 21C 2023C
41	41
42	42
43	43
44	44	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
45	45	hb0021c-00
46	46	Page 2 of 45
47	47	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
48	48
49	49
50	50
51	51	requirements to tenants; providing for dam ages if a 26
52	52	landlord fails to meet certain requirements; amending 27
53	53	s. 83.51, F.S.; requiring a landlord to inspect a 28
54	54	dwelling unit at a specified time to ensure compliance 29
55	55	with applicable codes; amending s. 83.54, F.S.; 30
56	56	requiring certain records be removed fr om a tenant's 31
57	57	credit report under certain circumstances; amending s. 32
58	58	83.56, F.S.; revising and specifying grounds for 33
59	59	termination of a rental agreement; requiring landlords 34
60	60	to provide certain tenants a specified amount of time 35
61	61	to vacate the premises after delivery of a notice to 36
62	62	terminate the rental agreement before bringing a 37
63	63	specified action; conforming provisions to changes 38
64	64	made by the act; conforming a cross -reference; 39
65	65	amending s. 83.60, F.S.; removing a requirement that 40
66	66	certain money be paid into the r egistry of the court; 41
67	67	creating s. 83.626, F.S.; authorizing tenants, mobile 42
68	68	home owners, mobile home tenants, or mobile home 43
69	69	occupants who are defendants in certain eviction 44
70	70	proceedings to file a motion with the court to have 45
71	71	the records of such proceeding s sealed and to have 46
72	72	their names substituted on the progress docket under 47
73	73	certain conditions; providing applicability; requiring 48
74	74	the court to grant such motions if certain 49
75	75	requirements are met; authorizing that such relief be 50
76	76
77	77	HB 21C 2023C
78	78
79	79
80	80
81	81	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
82	82	hb0021c-00
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84	84	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
85	85
86	86
87	87
88	88	granted only once; requiring t enants, mobile home 51
89	89	owners, mobile home tenants, or mobile home occupants 52
90	90	to submit a specified sworn statement under penalty of 53
91	91	perjury with their motion; requiring the court to 54
92	92	substitute a defendant's name on the progress docket 55
93	93	if a judgment is entered in favor of the defendant; 56
94	94	providing exceptions; providing retroactive 57
95	95	applicability; amending s. 83.63, F.S.; conforming a 58
96	96	cross-reference; amending s. 83.67, F.S.; prohibiting 59
97	97	a landlord from engaging in certain conduct; providing 60
98	98	definitions; conformin g a cross-reference to changes 61
99	99	made by the act; creating s. 83.675, F.S.; providing 62
100	100	definitions; requiring a landlord to give tenants the 63
101	101	opportunity to purchase the dwelling unit or premises 64
102	102	under certain circumstances; providing requirements 65
103	103	for an offer of sale; authorizing a tenant to 66
104	104	challenge an offer of sale; creating s. 83.676, F.S.; 67
105	105	providing definitions; prohibiting a landlord from 68
106	106	evicting a tenant or terminating a rental agreement 69
107	107	because the tenant or the tenant's minor child is a 70
108	108	victim of actual or threatened domestic violence, 71
109	109	dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking; 72
110	110	specifying that a rental agreement may not contain 73
111	111	certain provisions; authorizing a victim of such 74
112	112	actual or threatened violence or stalking to terminate 75
113	113
114	114	HB 21C 2023C
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116	116
117	117
118	118	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
119	119	hb0021c-00
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121	121	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
122	122
123	123
124	124
125	125	a rental agreement under certain circumstances; 76
126	126	requiring certain documentation and written notice to 77
127	127	landlord; providing for liability for rent for both 78
128	128	the tenant and the perpetrator, if applicable; 79
129	129	specifying that a tenant does not forfeit certain 80
130	130	money paid to the land lord for terminating the rental 81
131	131	agreement under certain circumstances; requiring a 82
132	132	landlord to change the locks of the dwelling unit 83
133	133	within a specified time period under certain 84
134	134	circumstances; authorizing the tenant to change the 85
135	135	locks of the dwelling unit under certain 86
136	136	circumstances; prohibiting certain actions by a 87
137	137	landlord under certain circumstances; authorizing 88
138	138	filing of a civil action and an award of damages, 89
139	139	fees, and costs under certain circumstances; 90
140	140	prohibiting the waiver of certain provisions; am ending 91
141	141	s. 163.31801, F.S.; authorizing local governments and 92
142	142	special districts to adopt a specified impact fee; 93
143	143	requiring that the revenue generated from such impact 94
144	144	fee be used for a specified purpose; creating s. 95
145	145	201.025, F.S.; providing the amount of do cumentary 96
146	146	stamp tax imposed on purchases of certain property by 97
147	147	certain entities; requiring revenue generated by such 98
148	148	tax to be deposited into the Florida Affordable 99
149	149	Housing Trust Fund; providing exceptions; providing an 100
150	150
151	151	HB 21C 2023C
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153	153
154	154
155	155	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
156	156	hb0021c-00
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158	158	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
159	159
160	160
161	161
162	162	effective date. 101
163	163	102
164	164	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 103
165	165	104
166	166	Section 1. This act shall be cited as the "Keep Floridians 105
167	167	Housed Act." 106
168	168	Section 2. Section 20.71, Florida Statutes, is created to 107
169	169	read: 108
170	170	20.71 Department of Housing and Tenant Rights. — 109
171	171	(1) There is created the Department of Housing and Tenant 110
172	172	Rights. 111
173	173	(2) The head of the department is the secretary, who shall 112
174	174	be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the 113
175	175	Senate. The secretary shall serve at the pleasure of and report 114
176	176	to the Governor. The secretary may appoint deputy and assistant 115
177	177	secretaries as necessary to aid the secretary in fulfilling his 116
178	178	or her statutory obligations. The secretary may create offices 117
179	179	or divisions within the department to promote efficient and 118
180	180	effective operation of t he department. 119
181	181	(3) The purpose of the department is to assist the 120
182	182	Governor in working with the Legislature, state agencies, and 121
183	183	other interested entities to formulate and implement coherent 122
184	184	and consistent policies and strategies designed to combat 123
185	185	affordable housing and homelessness issues in the state; assist 124
186	186	with housing and urban development; and perpetuate amicable 125
187	187
188	188	HB 21C 2023C
189	189
190	190
191	191
192	192	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
193	193	hb0021c-00
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195	195	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
196	196
197	197
198	198
199	199	landlord-tenant relationships. 126
200	200	(4) The department shall, by January 1, 2025, conduct 127
201	201	research and submit a report to the Governor, the P resident of 128
202	202	the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on a 129
203	203	cost-benefit analysis of implementing an empty homes tax. 130
204	204	(5) The department shall take over the role of state 131
205	205	government from other departments that currently administer 132
206	206	chapter 83 and chapters 419 -423. 133
207	207	Section 3. Subsections (11) and (16) of section 83.43, 134
208	208	Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 135
209	209	83.43 Definitions.—As used in this part, the following 136
210	210	words and terms shall have the following meanings unless some 137
211	211	other meaning is plainly indicated: 138
212	212	(11) "Rent" means the periodic payments due the landlord 139
213	213	from the tenant for occupancy under a rental agreement and any 140
214	214	other payments due the landlord from the tenant as may be 141
215	215	designated as rent in a written rental agreement . The term does 142
216	216	not include deposit money, security deposits, late fees, early 143
217	217	termination fees, liquidated damages, or any other charge or fee 144
218	218	even if the charge or fee is designated as rent in a written 145
219	219	rental agreement. 146
220	220	(16) "Tenant" means any person enti tled to occupy a 147
221	221	dwelling unit or property held out for the use of tenants 148
222	222	generally under a rental agreement. 149
223	223	Section 4. Section 83.455, Florida Statutes, is created to 150
224	224
225	225	HB 21C 2023C
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227	227
228	228
229	229	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
230	230	hb0021c-00
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232	232	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
233	233
234	234
235	235
236	236	read: 151
237	237	83.455 Rental agreements. — 152
238	238	(1) Immediately after entering into, extending, or 153
239	239	renewing a rental agreement, the tenant must be provided a copy 154
240	240	of the rental agreement. The rental agreement must be written in 155
241	241	plain language and, at the tenant's request, translated into the 156
242	242	preferred language of the tenant. 157
243	243	(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all rental 158
244	244	agreements entered into, extended, or renewed on or after July 159
245	245	1, 2024, must include the following provisions: 160
246	246	(a) Before a private sale or transfer of title of the 161
247	247	dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is 162
248	248	located, the landlord must provide the tenant with the right of 163
249	249	first refusal to purchase the dwelling unit or premises as 164
250	250	provided under s. 83.675. 165
251	251	(b) If a landlord chooses not to extend or renew a rental 166
252	252	agreement, he or she must pro vide the tenant 60 days' notice of 167
253	253	his or her decision and provide a written explanation for such 168
254	254	decision. 169
255	255	(c) If a rental agreement provision authorizes termination 170
256	256	of the rental agreement by the landlord without cause, such 171
257	257	provision must require the landlord to provide the tenant just 172
258	258	compensation and comprehensive relocation assistance. 173
259	259	(d) A landlord may not terminate a tenancy for cause 174
260	260	during a state of emergency declared by the Governor under 175
261	261
262	262	HB 21C 2023C
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264	264
265	265
266	266	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
267	267	hb0021c-00
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269	269	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
270	270
271	271
272	272
273	273	chapter 252. 176
274	274	(e) During a state of emergency decla red by the Governor 177
275	275	under chapter 252, a tenant may install wind resistance 178
276	276	improvements, as defined in s. 163.08(2)(b)3., to the dwelling 179
277	277	unit at the tenant's expense. 180
278	278	(f) A landlord may not terminate a tenancy because a 181
279	279	tenant establishes, attempts to establish, or participates in a 182
280	280	tenant organization. 183
281	281	Section 5. Subsection (4) is added to section 83.46, 184
282	282	Florida Statutes, to read: 185
283	283	83.46 Rent; duration of tenancies. — 186
284	284	(4) A landlord must provide to a tenant a written notice, 187
285	285	by certified mail or hand delivery, of a planned rent increase 188
286	286	at least 60 days before the rental agreement renewal period. If 189
287	287	the rent increase is more than 5 percent, the landlord must 190
288	288	provide notice, by certified mail or hand delivery, at least 3 191
289	289	months before the rental ag reement renewal period. If the rent 192
290	290	increase is more than 5 percent, the notice must also contain a 193
291	291	statement that the tenant may elect to participate in nonbinding 194
292	292	mediation, at the expense of the tenant, by providing written 195
293	293	notice to the landlord, by ce rtified mail or hand delivery, 196
294	294	within 14 days after receipt of the notice of the rent increase. 197
295	295	For a tenancy without a specific duration, the landlord must 198
296	296	provide written notice, by certified mail or hand delivery, of a 199
297	297	planned rent increase within the t imeframes provided in s. 200
298	298
299	299	HB 21C 2023C
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301	301
302	302
303	303	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
304	304	hb0021c-00
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306	306	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
307	307
308	308
309	309
310	310	83.57. 201
311	311	Section 6. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (1) of 202
312	312	section 83.47, Florida Statutes, to read: 203
313	313	83.47 Prohibited provisions in rental agreements. — 204
314	314	(1) A provision in a rental agreement is void and 205
315	315	unenforceable to the extent that it: 206
316	316	(c) Purports that early termination of a rental agreement 207
317	317	because of an incident involving actual or threatened domestic 208
318	318	violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking, in 209
319	319	which the tenant or the tenant's minor child is a vict im and not 210
320	320	the perpetrator, is a breach of the rental agreement. 211
321	321	Section 7. Subsections (1) through (9) of section 83.49, 212
322	322	Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (2) through 213
323	323	(10), respectively, present subsections (1) through (5), (7), 214
324	324	and (9) are amended, and a new subsection (1) is added to that 215
325	325	section, to read: 216
326	326	83.49 Deposit money or advance rent; duty of landlord and 217
327	327	tenant.— 218
328	328	(1)(a) A landlord may not charge a tenant a security 219
329	329	deposit that is more than 1 month's rent. 220
330	330	(b) The landlord must allow the tenant, in his or her 221
331	331	discretion, to pay the total amount of the security deposit in 222
332	332	12 equal payments to be paid at the same time and in the same 223
333	333	manner as the tenant's rent. If the duration of the rental 224
334	334	agreement is less than 1 year, th e total amount of the deposit 225
335	335
336	336	HB 21C 2023C
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338	338
339	339
340	340	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
341	341	hb0021c-00
342	342	Page 10 of 45
343	343	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
344	344
345	345
346	346
347	347	must be paid in equal monthly payments based on the duration of 226
348	348	the tenancy and be paid at the same time and in the same manner 227
349	349	as the tenant's rent. 228
350	350	(c) If a tenant pays his or her security deposit according 229
351	351	to paragraph (b), when the rental agreement is terminated or the 230
352	352	tenant vacates or abandons the premises before the expiration of 231
353	353	the term specified in the rental agreement, the tenant is 232
354	354	entitled to a refund equivalent to the amount of the security 233
355	355	deposit that he or sh e already paid, minus any deductions 234
356	356	properly claimed by the landlord under subsection (4) for 235
357	357	damages. 236
358	358	(2)(1) Whenever money is deposited or advanced by a tenant 237
359	359	on a rental agreement as security for performance of the rental 238
360	360	agreement or as advance ren t for other than the next immediate 239
361	361	rental period, the landlord or the landlord's agent shall 240
362	362	either: 241
363	363	(a) Hold the total amount of such money in a separate non -242
364	364	interest-bearing account in a Florida banking institution for 243
365	365	the benefit of the tenant or ten ants. The landlord shall not 244
366	366	commingle such moneys with any other funds of the landlord or 245
367	367	hypothecate, pledge, or in any other way make use of such moneys 246
368	368	until such moneys are actually due the landlord; 247
369	369	(a)(b) Hold the total amount of such money in a s eparate 248
370	370	interest-bearing account in a Florida banking institution for 249
371	371	the benefit of the tenant or tenants, in which case the tenant 250
372	372
373	373	HB 21C 2023C
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375	375
376	376
377	377	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
378	378	hb0021c-00
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380	380	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
381	381
382	382
383	383
384	384	shall receive and collect interest in an amount of at least 75 251
385	385	percent of the annualized average interest rate payable on s uch 252
386	386	account or interest at the rate of 5 percent per year, simple 253
387	387	interest, whichever the landlord elects. The landlord shall not 254
388	388	commingle such moneys with any other funds of the landlord or 255
389	389	hypothecate, pledge, or in any other way make use of such moneys 256
390	390	until such moneys are actually due the landlord; or 257
391	391	(b)(c) Post a surety bond, executed by the landlord as 258
392	392	principal and a surety company authorized and licensed to do 259
393	393	business in the state as surety, with the clerk of the circuit 260
394	394	court in the county in which the dwelling unit is located in the 261
395	395	total amount of the security deposits and advance rent he or she 262
396	396	holds on behalf of the tenants or $50,000, whichever is less. 263
397	397	The bond shall be conditioned upon the faithful compliance of 264
398	398	the landlord with the pr ovisions of this section and shall run 265
399	399	to the Governor for the benefit of any tenant injured by the 266
400	400	landlord's violation of the provisions of this section. In 267
401	401	addition to posting the surety bond, the landlord shall pay to 268
402	402	the tenant interest at the rate of 5 percent per year, simple 269
403	403	interest. A landlord, or the landlord's agent, engaged in the 270
404	404	renting of dwelling units in five or more counties, who holds 271
405	405	deposit moneys or advance rent and who is otherwise subject to 272
406	406	the provisions of this section, may, in l ieu of posting a surety 273
407	407	bond in each county, elect to post a surety bond in the form and 274
408	408	manner provided in this paragraph with the office of the 275
409	409
410	410	HB 21C 2023C
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412	412
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417	417	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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419	419
420	420
421	421	Secretary of State. The bond shall be in the total amount of the 276
422	422	security deposit or advance rent held on beha lf of tenants or in 277
423	423	the amount of $250,000, whichever is less. The bond shall be 278
424	424	conditioned upon the faithful compliance of the landlord with 279
425	425	the provisions of this section and shall run to the Governor for 280
426	426	the benefit of any tenant injured by the landlor d's violation of 281
427	427	this section. In addition to posting a surety bond, the landlord 282
428	428	shall pay to the tenant interest on the security deposit or 283
429	429	advance rent held on behalf of that tenant at the rate of 5 284
430	430	percent per year simple interest. 285
431	431	(3)(2) The landlord shall, in the rental lease agreement 286
432	432	or within 30 days after receipt of advance rent or a security 287
433	433	deposit, give written notice to the tenant which includes 288
434	434	disclosure of the advance rent or security deposit. Subsequent 289
435	435	to providing such written notice, if the landlord changes the 290
436	436	manner or location in which he or she is holding the advance 291
437	437	rent or security deposit, he or she must notify the tenant 292
438	438	within 30 days after the change as provided in paragraphs (a) -293
439	439	(d). The landlord is not required to give new or additional 294
440	440	notice solely because the depository has merged with another 295
441	441	financial institution, changed its name, or transferred 296
442	442	ownership to a different financial institution. This subsection 297
443	443	does not apply to any landlord who rents fewer than five 298
444	444	individual dwelling units. Failure to give this notice is not a 299
445	445	defense to the payment of rent when due. The written notice 300
446	446
447	447	HB 21C 2023C
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449	449
450	450
451	451	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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454	454	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
455	455
456	456
457	457
458	458	must: 301
459	459	(a) Be given in person or by mail to the tenant. 302
460	460	(b) State the name and address of the depository where the 303
461	461	advance rent or security deposit is being held or state that the 304
462	462	landlord has posted a surety bond as provided by law. 305
463	463	(c) State that whether the tenant is entitled to interest 306
464	464	on the deposit and the amount of the interest . 307
465	465	(d) Contain the following disclosure: 308
466	466	YOUR RENTAL AGREEMENT LEASE REQUIRES PAYMENT OF CERTAIN 309
467	467	DEPOSITS. THE LANDLORD MAY TRANSFER ADVANCE RENTS TO THE 310
468	468	LANDLORD'S ACCOUNT AS THEY ARE DUE AND WITHOUT NOTICE. WHEN YOU 311
469	469	MOVE OUT, YOU MUST GIVE THE LANDLORD YOUR NEW ADDRESS SO THAT 312
470	470	THE LANDLORD CAN SEND YOU NOTICES REGARDING YOUR DEPOSIT. THE 313
471	471	LANDLORD MUST MAIL YOU NOTICE, WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER YOU MOVE 314
472	472	OUT, OF THE LANDLORD'S INTENT TO IMPOSE A CLAIM AGAINST THE 315
473	473	DEPOSIT. IF YOU DO NOT REPLY TO THE LANDLORD STATING YOUR 316
474	474	OBJECTION TO THE CLAIM WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE 317
475	475	LANDLORD'S NOTICE, THE LANDLORD WILL COLLECT THE CLAIM AND MUST 318
476	476	MAIL YOU THE REMAINING DEPOSIT, IF ANY. 319
477	477	IF THE LANDLORD FAILS TO TIMELY MAIL YOU NOTICE, THE LANDLORD 320
478	478	MUST RETURN THE DEPOSIT BUT MAY LATER FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU 321
479	479	FOR DAMAGES. IF YOU FAIL TO TIMELY OBJECT TO A CLAIM, THE 322
480	480	LANDLORD MAY COLLECT FROM THE DEPOSIT, BUT YOU MAY LATER FILE A 323
481	481	LAWSUIT CLAIMING A REFUND. 324
482	482	YOU SHOULD ATTEMPT TO INFORMALLY RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BEFORE 325
483	483
484	484	HB 21C 2023C
485	485
486	486
487	487
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491	491	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
492	492
493	493
494	494
495	495	FILING A LAWSUIT. GENERALLY, THE PARTY IN WHOSE FA VOR A JUDGMENT 326
496	496	IS RENDERED WILL BE AWARDED COSTS AND ATTORNEY FEES PAYABLE BY 327
497	497	THE LOSING PARTY. 328
498	498	THIS DISCLOSURE IS BASIC. PLEASE REFER TO PART II OF CHAPTER 83, 329
499	499	FLORIDA STATUTES, TO DETERMINE YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND 330
500	500	OBLIGATIONS. 331
501	501	(4)(3) The landlord or the landlord's agent may disburse 332
502	502	advance rents from the deposit account to the landlord's benefit 333
503	503	when the advance rental period commences and without notice to 334
504	504	the tenant. For all other deposits: 335
505	505	(a) Upon the vacating of the premises for termination of 336
506	506	the rental agreement lease, if the landlord does not intend to 337
507	507	impose a claim on the security deposit, the landlord must shall 338
508	508	have 15 days to return the security deposit together with 339
509	509	interest within 30 days after the tenant vacates the premises. 340
510	510	if otherwise required, or The landlord has shall have 30 days 341
511	511	after the tenant vacates the premises to give the tenant written 342
512	512	notice by certified mail to the tenant's last known mailing 343
513	513	address of his or her intention to impose a claim on the deposit 344
514	514	and the reason for imposing the claim. The notice must shall 345
515	515	contain a statement in substantially the following form: 346
516	516	This is a notice of my intention to impose a claim for 347
517	517	damages in the amount of .... upon your security deposit, due to 348
518	518	..... It is sent to you as requi red by s. 83.49(4) s. 83.49(3), 349
519	519	Florida Statutes. You are hereby notified that you must object 350
520	520
521	521	HB 21C 2023C
522	522
523	523
524	524
525	525	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
526	526	hb0021c-00
527	527	Page 15 of 45
528	528	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
529	529
530	530
531	531
532	532	in writing to this deduction from your security deposit within 351
533	533	15 days after from the time you receive this notice or I will be 352
534	534	authorized to deduct my claim fro m your security deposit. Your 353
535	535	objection must be sent to ...(landlord's address).... 354
536	536	If the landlord fails to give the required notice within the 30 -355
537	537	day period, he or she forfeits the right to impose a claim upon 356
538	538	the security deposit and may not seek a seto ff against the 357
539	539	deposit but may file an action for damages after return of the 358
540	540	deposit. 359
541	541	(b) Unless the tenant objects to the imposition of the 360
542	542	landlord's claim or the amount thereof within 15 days after 361
543	543	receipt of the landlord's notice of intention to imp ose a claim, 362
544	544	the landlord may then deduct the amount of his or her claim and 363
545	545	must shall remit the balance of the deposit and any interest to 364
546	546	the tenant within 30 days after the date of the notice of 365
547	547	intention to impose a claim for damages. The failure of t he 366
548	548	tenant to make a timely objection does not waive any rights of 367
549	549	the tenant to seek damages in a separate action. 368
550	550	(c) If either party institutes an action in a court of 369
551	551	competent jurisdiction to adjudicate the party's right to the 370
552	552	security deposit, the prevailing party is entitled to receive 371
553	553	his or her court costs plus a reasonable fee for his or her 372
554	554	attorney. If a court finds that the landlord failed to meet the 373
555	555	requirements of this section, the court must award the tenant 374
556	556	damages equal to three times t he amount of the tenant's security 375
557	557
558	558	HB 21C 2023C
559	559
560	560
561	561
562	562	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
563	563	hb0021c-00
564	564	Page 16 of 45
565	565	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
566	566
567	567
568	568
569	569	deposit. The court shall advance the cause on the calendar. 376
570	570	(d) Compliance with this section by an individual or 377
571	571	business entity authorized to conduct business in this state, 378
572	572	including Florida-licensed real estate broke rs and sales 379
573	573	associates, constitutes compliance with all other relevant 380
574	574	Florida Statutes pertaining to security deposits held pursuant 381
575	575	to a rental agreement or other landlord -tenant relationship. 382
576	576	Enforcement personnel shall look solely to this section to 383
577	577	determine compliance. This section prevails over any conflicting 384
578	578	provisions in chapter 475 and in other sections of the Florida 385
579	579	Statutes, and operates shall operate to permit licensed real 386
580	580	estate brokers to disburse security deposits and deposit money 387
581	581	without having to comply with the notice and settlement 388
582	582	procedures contained in s. 475.25(1)(d). 389
583	583	(5)(4) The provisions of This section does do not apply to 390
584	584	transient rentals by hotels or motels as defined in chapter 509 ; 391
585	585	or nor do they apply in those instances in which the amount of 392
586	586	rent or deposit, or both, is regulated by law or by rules or 393
587	587	regulations of a public body, including public housing 394
588	588	authorities and federally administered or regulated housing 395
589	589	programs including s. 202, s. 221(d)(3) and (4), s. 236 , or s. 8 396
590	590	of the National Housing Act, as amended, other than for rent 397
591	591	stabilization. With the exception of subsections (4), (6), and 398
592	592	(7) (3), (5), and (6), this section is not applicable to housing 399
593	593	authorities or public housing agencies created pursuant t o 400
594	594
595	595	HB 21C 2023C
596	596
597	597
598	598
599	599	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
600	600	hb0021c-00
601	601	Page 17 of 45
602	602	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
603	603
604	604
605	605
606	606	chapter 421 or other statutes. 401
607	607	(6)(5) Except when otherwise provided by the terms of a 402
608	608	written rental agreement lease, any tenant who vacates or 403
609	609	abandons the premises before prior to the expiration of the term 404
610	610	specified in the written rental agreement lease, or any tenant 405
611	611	who vacates or abandons premises which are the subject of a 406
612	612	tenancy from week to week, month to month, quarter to quarter, 407
613	613	or year to year, must shall give at least 7 days' written 408
614	614	notice, which notice must include the address where the tenant 409
615	615	may be reached, by certified mail or personal delivery to the 410
616	616	landlord before prior to vacating or abandoning the premises 411
617	617	which notice shall include the address where the tenant may be 412
618	618	reached. Failure to give such notice relieves shall relieve the 413
619	619	landlord of the notice requirement of paragraph (4)(a)(3)(a) but 414
620	620	does shall not waive any right the tenant may have to the 415
621	621	security deposit or any part of it. 416
622	622	(8)(7) Upon the sale or transfer of title of the rental 417
623	623	property from one owner to another , or upon a change in the 418
624	624	designated rental agent, any and all security deposits or 419
625	625	advance rents being held for the benefit of the tenants must 420
626	626	shall be transferred to the new owner or agent, together with 421
627	627	any earned interest and with an accurate accounti ng showing the 422
628	628	amounts to be credited to each tenant account. Upon the transfer 423
629	629	of such funds and records to the new owner or agent, and upon 424
630	630	transmittal of a written receipt therefor, the transferor is 425
631	631
632	632	HB 21C 2023C
633	633
634	634
635	635
636	636	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
637	637	hb0021c-00
638	638	Page 18 of 45
639	639	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
640	640
641	641
642	642
643	643	free from the obligation imposed in subsection (2)(1) to hold 426
644	644	such moneys on behalf of the tenant. There is a rebuttable 427
645	645	presumption that any new owner or agent received the security 428
646	646	deposit from the previous owner or agent; however, this 429
647	647	presumption is limited to 1 month's rent. This subsection does 430
648	648	not excuse the landlord or agent for a violation of other 431
649	649	provisions of this section while in possession of such deposits. 432
650	650	(10)(9) In those cases in which interest is required to be 433
651	651	paid to the tenant, The landlord shall pay directly to the 434
652	652	tenant, or credit ag ainst the current month's rent, the interest 435
653	653	due to the tenant at least once annually. However, no interest 436
654	654	may not be paid to shall be due a tenant who wrongfully 437
655	655	terminates his or her tenancy before prior to the end of the 438
656	656	rental term. 439
657	657	Section 8. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 440
658	658	83.51, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 441
659	659	83.51 Landlord's obligation to maintain premises. — 442
660	660	(1) The landlord at all times during the tenancy shall: 443
661	661	(a) Comply with the requirements of applicable building, 444
662	662	housing, and health codes . The landlord, at commencement of the 445
663	663	tenancy, must inspect the dwelling unit to ensure compliance 446
664	664	with all applicable codes ; or 447
665	665	448
666	666	The landlord is not required to maintain a mobile home or other 449
667	667	structure owned by the tenant. The la ndlord's obligations under 450
668	668
669	669	HB 21C 2023C
670	670
671	671
672	672
673	673	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
674	674	hb0021c-00
675	675	Page 19 of 45
676	676	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
677	677
678	678
679	679
680	680	this subsection may be altered or modified in writing with 451
681	681	respect to a single-family home or duplex. 452
682	682	Section 9. Section 83.54, Florida Statutes, is amended to 453
683	683	read: 454
684	684	83.54 Enforcement of rights and duties; civil action; 455
685	685	criminal offenses.—Any right or duty declared in this part is 456
686	686	enforceable by civil action. A right or duty enforced by civil 457
687	687	action under this section does not preclude prosecution for a 458
688	688	criminal offense related to the rental agreement or rented 459
689	689	dwelling unit or premises lease or leased property . In an action 460
690	690	brought by a tenant for wrongful termination of a rental 461
691	691	agreement, if the court finds in favor of the tenant, any 462
692	692	eviction complaint filed by the landlord must be dismissed and 463
693	693	the record of such filing removed from the tenant's credit 464
694	694	report. 465
695	695	Section 10. Subsections (5) and (6) of section 83.56, 466
696	696	Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (6) and (7), 467
697	697	respectively, subsections (2), (3), and (4), and paragraph (b) 468
698	698	of present subsection (5), and pr esent subsection (6) are 469
699	699	amended, and new subsections (5) and (8) are added to that 470
700	700	section, to read: 471
701	701	83.56 Termination of rental agreement. — 472
702	702	(2)(a) A landlord must have good cause to terminate a 473
703	703	rental agreement. The following reasons constitute good cause 474
704	704	allowing for termination of a rental agreement: 475
705	705
706	706	HB 21C 2023C
707	707
708	708
709	709
710	710	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
711	711	hb0021c-00
712	712	Page 20 of 45
713	713	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
714	714
715	715
716	716
717	717	1. The destruction, damage, or misuse of the landlord's or 476
718	718	other tenants' property by intentional act. 477
719	719	2. A tenant's disorderly conduct or continued unreasonable 478
720	720	disturbance. 479
721	721	3. Failure of the tenant to comply with s. 83.52. 480
722	722	4. A violation or breach of the landlord's reasonable 481
723	723	rules and regulations. 482
724	724	5. A violation or breach of covenants or agreements 483
725	725	contained in the rental agreement. 484
726	726	6. Use of the dwelling unit or premises for illegal 485
727	727	purposes or acts that the tenant has been criminally charged 486
728	728	with, including, but not limited to, the manufacture, sale, or 487
729	729	use of illegal drugs, theft of property, or assault or threats 488
730	730	on the landlord or his or her relatives, as defined in s. 489
731	731	494.001, or employees. 490
732	732	7. The dwelling unit or premises are removed from the 491
733	733	rental market because the state, any political subdivision as 492
734	734	defined in s. 1.01(8), or other entity exercises its power of 493
735	735	eminent domain, the landlord seeks in good faith to permanently 494
736	736	remove the property from the rental market, or the landlord is 495
737	737	converting the dwelling unit or premises from the rental market 496
738	738	to a condominium, cooperative, or fee simple ownership. 497
739	739	8. The dwelling unit or premises are being used as an 498
740	740	incident of employment and such employment is terminated. 499
741	741	9. The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession 500
742	742
743	743	HB 21C 2023C
744	744
745	745
746	746
747	747	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
748	748	hb0021c-00
749	749	Page 21 of 45
750	750	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
751	751
752	752
753	753
754	754	of the dwelling unit or premises for his or her own use and 501
755	755	occupancy as a principal residence, or for the use and occupancy 502
756	756	as a principal residence by a re lative, as defined in s. 503
757	757	494.001, of the landlord. 504
758	758	(b) If any of the violations in subparagraphs 1. -6. exist 505
759	759	the tenant materially fails to comply with s. 83.52 or material 506
760	760	provisions of the rental agreement, other than a failure to pay 507
761	761	rent, or reasonable rules or regulations , the landlord may: 508
762	762	1.(a) If the violation such noncompliance is of a nature 509
763	763	that the tenant should not be given an opportunity to cure it or 510
764	764	if the violation noncompliance constitutes a subsequent or 511
765	765	continuing violation noncompliance within 12 months after of a 512
766	766	written warning by the landlord of a similar violation, deliver 513
767	767	a written notice to the tenant specifying the violation 514
768	768	noncompliance and the landlord's intent to terminate the rental 515
769	769	agreement by reason thereof. Examples of noncompliance which are 516
770	770	of a nature that the tenant should not be given an opportunity 517
771	771	to cure include, but are not limited to, destruction, damage, or 518
772	772	misuse of the landlord's or other tenants' property by 519
773	773	intentional act or a subsequent or con tinued unreasonable 520
774	774	disturbance. In such event, the landlord may terminate the 521
775	775	rental agreement, and the tenant has shall have 7 days after 522
776	776	from the date that the notice is delivered to vacate the 523
777	777	premises. The notice must shall be in substantially the 524
778	778	following form: 525
779	779
780	780	HB 21C 2023C
781	781
782	782
783	783
784	784	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
785	785	hb0021c-00
786	786	Page 22 of 45
787	787	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
788	788
789	789
790	790
791	791	You are advised that your rental agreement lease is 526
792	792	terminated effective immediately. You shall have 7 days after 527
793	793	from the delivery of this letter to vacate the premises. This 528
794	794	action is taken because ...(cite the violation 529
795	795	noncompliance).... 530
796	796	2.(b) If the violation such noncompliance is of a nature 531
797	797	that the tenant should be given an opportunity to cure it, 532
798	798	deliver a written notice to the tenant specifying the violation 533
799	799	noncompliance, including a notice that, if the violation 534
800	800	noncompliance is not corrected within 7 days after from the date 535
801	801	that the written notice is delivered, the landlord will shall 536
802	802	terminate the rental agreement by reason thereof. Examples of 537
803	803	such noncompliance include, but are not limited to, activities 538
804	804	in contravention of t he lease or this part such as having or 539
805	805	permitting unauthorized pets, guests, or vehicles; parking in an 540
806	806	unauthorized manner or permitting such parking; or failing to 541
807	807	keep the premises clean and sanitary. If such violation 542
808	808	noncompliance recurs within 12 months after receipt of such 543
809	809	notice, an eviction action may commence without delivering a 544
810	810	subsequent notice pursuant to subparagraph 1. paragraph (a) or 545
811	811	this subparagraph paragraph. The notice must shall be in 546
812	812	substantially the following form: 547
813	813	You are hereby notified that ...(cite the violation 548
814	814	noncompliance).... Demand is hereby made that you remedy the 549
815	815	violation noncompliance within 7 days after of receipt of this 550
816	816
817	817	HB 21C 2023C
818	818
819	819
820	820
821	821	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
822	822	hb0021c-00
823	823	Page 23 of 45
824	824	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
825	825
826	826
827	827
828	828	notice or your rental agreement will be lease shall be deemed 551
829	829	terminated and you must shall vacate the premises upon such 552
830	830	termination. If this same conduct or conduct of a similar nature 553
831	831	is repeated within 12 months, your tenancy is subject to 554
832	832	termination without further warning and without your being given 555
833	833	an opportunity to cure the violation noncompliance. 556
834	834	(c) If any other reason provided in paragraph (a) exists, 557
835	835	the landlord may deliver a written notice to the tenant of the 558
836	836	landlord's intent to terminate the rental agreement. The written 559
837	837	notice must specify the reason for the termination. In such 560
838	838	event, the tenant has 7 days after the date that the notice is 561
839	839	delivered to vacate the premises. 562
840	840	(3) If the tenant fails to pay rent when due and the 563
841	841	default continues for 3 days, excluding Saturday, Sunday, and 564
842	842	legal holidays, after delivery of wr itten demand by the landlord 565
843	843	for payment of the rent or possession of the premises, or if the 566
844	844	tenant habitually pays late or fails to pay the full amount of 567
845	845	rent after being given notice of a rent increase as required in 568
846	846	s. 83.46(4), the landlord may termi nate the rental agreement. 569
847	847	Habitual late payments means more than one late payment 570
848	848	following the landlord's first written demand for payment. Legal 571
849	849	holidays for the purpose of this section shall be court -observed 572
850	850	holidays only. The 3 -day notice shall conta in a statement in 573
851	851	substantially the following form: 574
852	852	You are hereby notified that you are indebted to me in the 575
853	853
854	854	HB 21C 2023C
855	855
856	856
857	857
858	858	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
859	859	hb0021c-00
860	860	Page 24 of 45
861	861	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
862	862
863	863
864	864
865	865	sum of .... dollars for the rent and use of the premises 576
866	866	...(address of leased premises, including county)..., Florida, 577
867	867	now occupied by you and that I demand payment of the rent or 578
868	868	possession of the premises within 3 days (excluding Saturday, 579
869	869	Sunday, and legal holidays) after from the date of delivery of 580
870	870	this notice, to wit: on or before the .... day of ...., 581
871	871	...(year).... 582
872	872	...(landlord's name, add ress and phone number)... 583
873	873	584
874	874	(4) The delivery of the written notices required by 585
875	875	subsections (1), (2), and (3), and (8) must shall be by mailing 586
876	876	or delivery of a true copy thereof or, if the tenant is absent 587
877	877	from the premises, by leaving a copy thereof at the residence. 588
878	878	The notice requirements of subsections (1), (2), and (3), and 589
879	879	(8) may not be waived in the rental agreement lease. 590
880	880	(5) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, if the 591
881	881	landlord knows or reasonably should know that the tenant is 592
882	882	pregnant or there are children under the age of 18 years living 593
883	883	in the dwelling unit, the landlord must provide the tenant at 594
884	884	least 3 months after delivery of a written notice under 595
885	885	subsection (2) or subsection (3) to vacate the premises before 596
886	886	bringing an action for possession of the dwelling unit under s. 597
887	887	83.59. 598
888	888	(6)(5) 599
889	889	(b) Any tenant who wishes to defend against an action by 600
890	890
891	891	HB 21C 2023C
892	892
893	893
894	894
895	895	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
896	896	hb0021c-00
897	897	Page 25 of 45
898	898	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
899	899
900	900
901	901
902	902	the landlord for possession of the unit for noncompliance of the 601
903	903	rental agreement or of relevant statutes must comply with s. 602
904	904	83.60(2). The court may not set a date for mediation or trial 603
905	905	unless the provisions of s. 83.60(2) have been met , but must 604
906	906	enter a default judgment for removal of the tenant with a writ 605
907	907	of possession to issue immediately if the tenant fails to comply 606
908	908	with s. 83.60(2). 607
909	909	(7)(6) If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord 608
910	910	must shall comply with s. 83.49(4) s. 83.49(3). 609
911	911	(8)(a) If the landlord seeks in good faith to undertake 610
912	912	substantial repairs to the dwelling unit or premises that cannot 611
913	913	be completed while t he dwelling unit is occupied, and that are 612
914	914	necessary to bring the dwelling unit or premises into compliance 613
915	915	with applicable codes and laws or under an outstanding notice of 614
916	916	code violations, the landlord may deliver a written notice to 615
917	917	the tenant of the lan dlord's intent to terminate the rental 616
918	918	agreement. In such event, the tenant has 7 days after the date 617
919	919	that the notice is delivered to vacate the premises. 618
920	920	(b) A notice terminating a rental agreement under this 619
921	921	subsection must include the following inform ation: 620
922	922	1. A statement in substantially the following form: "When 621
923	923	the needed repairs are completed on your dwelling unit or the 622
924	924	premises, the landlord must offer you the opportunity to return 623
925	925	to your dwelling unit with a rental agreement of substantially 624
926	926	the same terms and at the same rent, subject to the landlord's 625
927	927
928	928	HB 21C 2023C
929	929
930	930
931	931
932	932	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
933	933	hb0021c-00
934	934	Page 26 of 45
935	935	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
936	936
937	937
938	938
939	939	right to obtain a rent increase for capital improvements." 626
940	940	2. If a landlord owns other residential dwelling units and 627
941	941	any such unit is available, a statement informing the tenant of 628
942	942	the existence of the available unit and an offer to enter into a 629
943	943	temporary rental agreement for the available unit or an offer to 630
944	944	enter into a new rental agreement for the available unit. The 631
945	945	landlord must offer the replacement dwelling unit to the tenant 632
946	946	at a rent based on the rent that the tenant is currently paying, 633
947	947	allowing for adjustments based on the condition, size, and other 634
948	948	amenities of the replacement unit. 635
949	949	3. An estimate of the time required to complete the 636
950	950	repairs and the date upon which it is expected that the dwelling 637
951	951	unit will be ready for habitation. 638
952	952	(c) Upon completion of the repairs of the dwelling unit or 639
953	953	premises, the landlord must offer the tenant the first right to 640
954	954	return to the dwelling unit at the same rent and under a rental 641
955	955	agreement of substantially the same terms, subject to the 642
956	956	landlord's right to obtain a rent increase for capital 643
957	957	improvements. 644
958	958	Section 11. Subsection (2) of section 83.60, Florida 645
959	959	Statutes, is amended to read: 646
960	960	83.60 Defenses to action for rent or possession; 647
961	961	procedure.— 648
962	962	(2) In an action by the landlord for possession of a 649
963	963	dwelling unit, if the tenant interposes any defense other than 650
964	964
965	965	HB 21C 2023C
966	966
967	967
968	968
969	969	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
970	970	hb0021c-00
971	971	Page 27 of 45
972	972	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
973	973
974	974
975	975
976	976	payment, including, but not limited to, the defense of a 651
977	977	defective 3-day notice, the tenant must shall pay into the 652
978	978	registry of the court the accrued rent as alleged in the 653
979	979	complaint or as determined by the court and the rent that 654
980	980	accrues during the pendency of the proceeding, when due. The 655
981	981	clerk shall notify the tenant of such requirement in the 656
982	982	summons. Failure of the tenant to pay the rent into the registry 657
983	983	of the court or to file a motion to determine the amount of rent 658
984	984	to be paid into the registry within 5 days, excluding Saturdays, 659
985	985	Sundays, and legal holidays, after the date of service of 660
986	986	process constitutes an absolute waiver o f the tenant's defenses 661
987	987	other than payment, and the landlord is entitled to an immediate 662
988	988	default judgment for removal of the tenant with a writ of 663
989	989	possession to issue without further notice or hearing thereon. 664
990	990	If a motion to determine rent is filed, docume ntation in support 665
991	991	of the allegation that the rent as alleged in the complaint is 666
992	992	in error is required. Public housing tenants or tenants 667
993	993	receiving rent subsidies are required to deposit only that 668
994	994	portion of the full rent for which they are responsible pur suant 669
995	995	to the federal, state, or local program in which they are 670
996	996	participating. 671
997	997	Section 12. Section 83.626, Florida Statutes, is created 672
998	998	to read: 673
999	999	83.626 Court records of eviction proceedings. — 674
1000	1000	(1) A tenant, mobile home owner, mobile home tenant, or 675
1001	1001
1002	1002	HB 21C 2023C
1003	1003
1004	1004
1005	1005
1006	1006	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1007	1007	hb0021c-00
1008	1008	Page 28 of 45
1009	1009	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1010	1010
1011	1011
1012	1012
1013	1013	mobile home occupant who is a defendant in an eviction 676
1014	1014	proceeding under this part or s. 723.061 may file a motion with 677
1015	1015	the court to have the records of such proceeding sealed and to 678
1016	1016	have his or her name substituted with "tenant" or "occupant" on 679
1017	1017	the progress docket if any of the following conditions are 680
1018	1018	satisfied: 681
1019	1019	(a) The parties file a joint stipulation requesting relief 682
1020	1020	under this section. 683
1021	1021	(b) The case was dismissed. 684
1022	1022	(c) The case was resolved by settlement or stipulation of 685
1023	1023	the parties and the defen dant has complied with the terms of the 686
1024	1024	agreement. 687
1025	1025	(d) A default judgment was entered against the defendant 688
1026	1026	and the defendant has satisfied any monetary award included in 689
1027	1027	the judgment. This paragraph does not apply if the action was 690
1028	1028	brought under s. 83.5 6(2)(a) or s. 723.061(1)(b) or (c) for 691
1029	1029	material noncompliance, other than nonpayment of rent, because 692
1030	1030	of the defendant's intentional destruction, damage, or misuse of 693
1031	1031	the landlord's property. 694
1032	1032	(e) A judgment was entered against the defendant on the 695
1033	1033	merits at least 5 years before the motion was filed under this 696
1034	1034	subsection and the defendant has satisfied any monetary award 697
1035	1035	included in the judgment. This paragraph does not apply if the 698
1036	1036	action was brought under s. 83.56(2)(a) or s. 723.061(1)(b) or 699
1037	1037	(c) for material noncompliance, other than nonpayment of rent, 700
1038	1038
1039	1039	HB 21C 2023C
1040	1040
1041	1041
1042	1042
1043	1043	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1044	1044	hb0021c-00
1045	1045	Page 29 of 45
1046	1046	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1047	1047
1048	1048
1049	1049
1050	1050	because of the defendant's intentional destruction, damage, or 701
1051	1051	misuse of the landlord's property. 702
1052	1052	(2)(a) The court shall grant such motion without a hearing 703
1053	1053	if the requirements in paragraph (1)(a) or pa ragraph (1)(b) are 704
1054	1054	satisfied. 705
1055	1055	(b) If the defendant files a motion on the basis of 706
1056	1056	paragraph (1)(c), paragraph (1)(d), or paragraph (1)(e) being 707
1057	1057	satisfied, the defendant must also serve a copy of the motion on 708
1058	1058	all parties to the proceeding. If a written o bjection is filed 709
1059	1059	by a party within 30 days after such service, the court must 710
1060	1060	schedule a hearing. If a written objection is not filed within 711
1061	1061	30 days after service of the motion, or the court determines 712
1062	1062	after a hearing that the defendant is eligible for re lief, the 713
1063	1063	court must grant the motion. 714
1064	1064	(3) A tenant, mobile home owner, mobile home tenant, or 715
1065	1065	mobile home occupant is entitled to relief under subsection (2) 716
1066	1066	only once. When a tenant, mobile home owner, mobile home tenant, 717
1067	1067	or mobile home occupant files a motion under subsection (1), he 718
1068	1068	or she must also submit a sworn statement under penalty of 719
1069	1069	perjury affirming that he or she has not previously received 720
1070	1070	such relief from a court in the state. 721
1071	1071	(4) In an eviction proceeding under this part or s. 722
1072	1072	723.061, the court must substitute a defendant's name on the 723
1073	1073	progress docket with "tenant" or "occupant" if a judgment is 724
1074	1074	entered in favor of the defendant. 725
1075	1075
1076	1076	HB 21C 2023C
1077	1077
1078	1078
1079	1079
1080	1080	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1081	1081	hb0021c-00
1082	1082	Page 30 of 45
1083	1083	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1084	1084
1085	1085
1086	1086
1087	1087	(5) A defendant is not eligible for relief under this 726
1088	1088	section if: 727
1089	1089	(a) During any 12-month period, the de fendant has had a 728
1090	1090	judgment entered against him or her in two or more eviction 729
1091	1091	proceedings; or 730
1092	1092	(b) During any 24-month period, the defendant has had a 731
1093	1093	judgment entered against him or her in three or more eviction 732
1094	1094	proceedings. 733
1095	1095	(6) This section applies to any judgment entered before, 734
1096	1096	on, or after July 1, 2024. 735
1097	1097	Section 13. Section 83.63, Florida Statutes, is amended to 736
1098	1098	read: 737
1099	1099	83.63 Casualty damage. —If the premises are damaged or 738
1100	1100	destroyed other than by the wrongful or negligent acts of the 739
1101	1101	tenant so that the enjoyment of the premises is substantially 740
1102	1102	impaired, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement and 741
1103	1103	immediately vacate the premises. The tenant may vacate the part 742
1104	1104	of the premises rendered unusable by the casualty, in which case 743
1105	1105	the tenant's liability for rent shall be reduced by the fair 744
1106	1106	rental value of that part of the premises damaged or destroyed. 745
1107	1107	If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall comply 746
1108	1108	with s. 83.49(4) s. 83.49(3). 747
1109	1109	Section 14. Section 83.67, Florida Statutes, is a mended to 748
1110	1110	read: 749
1111	1111	83.67 Prohibited practices. — 750
1112	1112
1113	1113	HB 21C 2023C
1114	1114
1115	1115
1116	1116
1117	1117	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1118	1118	hb0021c-00
1119	1119	Page 31 of 45
1120	1120	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1121	1121
1122	1122
1123	1123
1124	1124	(1) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 751
1125	1125	may shall not cause, directly or indirectly, the termination or 752
1126	1126	interruption of any utility service furnished to the tenant, 753
1127	1127	including, but not limit ed to, water, heat, light, electricity, 754
1128	1128	gas, elevator, garbage collection, or refrigeration, whether or 755
1129	1129	not the utility service is under the control of, or payment is 756
1130	1130	made by, the landlord. 757
1131	1131	(2) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 758
1132	1132	may shall not prevent the tenant from gaining reasonable access 759
1133	1133	to the dwelling unit by any means, including, but not limited 760
1134	1134	to, changing the locks or using any bootlock or similar device. 761
1135	1135	(3) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 762
1136	1136	may shall not discriminate against a servicemember in offering a 763
1137	1137	dwelling unit for rent or in any of the terms of the rental 764
1138	1138	agreement. 765
1139	1139	(4) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 766
1140	1140	may not discriminate against a person in offering a dwelling 767
1141	1141	unit for rent or in any of the terms of the rental agreement 768
1142	1142	based on the person's race; color; religion; sex; pregnancy; 769
1143	1143	national origin; age; physical, mental, or developmental 770
1144	1144	disability; HIV status; familial status; sexual orientation; 771
1145	1145	gender identity; source of income; or credit score. For purposes 772
1146	1146	of this subsection, the term: 773
1147	1147	(a) "Familial status" means the makeup of a person's 774
1148	1148	family, including whether there is a child under the age of 18 775
1149	1149
1150	1150	HB 21C 2023C
1151	1151
1152	1152
1153	1153
1154	1154	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1155	1155	hb0021c-00
1156	1156	Page 32 of 45
1157	1157	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1158	1158
1159	1159
1160	1160
1161	1161	living with the person or whether the person is seeking custody 776
1162	1162	of a child under the age of 18. 777
1163	1163	(b) "Gender identity" means the identity, appearance, or 778
1164	1164	behavior of a person, regardless of whether such identity, 779
1165	1165	appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally 780
1166	1166	associated with the person's physiology or assigne d sex at 781
1167	1167	birth. 782
1168	1168	(c) "Sexual orientation" means a person's heterosexuality, 783
1169	1169	homosexuality, or bisexuality. 784
1170	1170	(5) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 785
1171	1171	may not harass or intimidate a tenant for the purpose of 786
1172	1172	coercing the tenant into termin ating the rental agreement. 787
1173	1173	(6) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 788
1174	1174	may not refuse to show the dwelling unit, either in person or 789
1175	1175	through photographs, to a prospective tenant until the 790
1176	1176	prospective tenant signs a rental agreement. 791
1177	1177	(7) Unless otherwise required by law, a landlord of any 792
1178	1178	dwelling unit governed by this part may not inquire into or 793
1179	1179	consider a prospective tenant's criminal history on a rental 794
1180	1180	application or rental agreement. A landlord may inquire into or 795
1181	1181	consider a prospective tenant's criminal history only after the 796
1182	1182	landlord otherwise determines that the prospective tenant 797
1183	1183	otherwise qualifies to rent a dwelling unit. 798
1184	1184	(8) If a landlord requires a prospective tenant to 799
1185	1185	complete a rental application before residing in a dwel ling 800
1186	1186
1187	1187	HB 21C 2023C
1188	1188
1189	1189
1190	1190
1191	1191	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1192	1192	hb0021c-00
1193	1193	Page 33 of 45
1194	1194	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1195	1195
1196	1196
1197	1197
1198	1198	unit, the landlord may not charge an excessive rental 801
1199	1199	application fee. If, after a prospective tenant submits a rental 802
1200	1200	application and application fee, a dwelling unit is not 803
1201	1201	available, the landlord must refund the application fee to the 804
1202	1202	prospective tenant. 805
1203	1203	(9)(4) A landlord may shall not prohibit a tenant from 806
1204	1204	displaying one portable, removable, cloth or plastic United 807
1205	1205	States flag, not larger than 4 and 1/2 feet by 6 feet, in a 808
1206	1206	respectful manner in or on the dwelling unit regardless of any 809
1207	1207	provision in the rental agreement dealing with flags or 810
1208	1208	decorations. The United States flag shall be displayed in 811
1209	1209	accordance with s. 83.52(6). The landlord is not liable for 812
1210	1210	damages caused by a United States flag displayed by a tenant. 813
1211	1211	Any United States flag may n ot infringe upon the space rented by 814
1212	1212	any other tenant. 815
1213	1213	(10)(5) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this 816
1214	1214	part may shall not remove the outside doors, locks, roof, walls, 817
1215	1215	or windows of the unit except for purposes of maintenance, 818
1216	1216	repair, or replacement; and the landlord may shall not remove 819
1217	1217	the tenant's personal property from the dwelling unit unless 820
1218	1218	such action is taken after surrender, abandonment, recovery of 821
1219	1219	possession of the dwelling unit due to the death of the last 822
1220	1220	remaining tenant in accorda nce with s. 83.59(3)(d), or a lawful 823
1221	1221	eviction. If provided in the rental agreement or a written 824
1222	1222	agreement separate from the rental agreement, upon surrender or 825
1223	1223
1224	1224	HB 21C 2023C
1225	1225
1226	1226
1227	1227
1228	1228	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1229	1229	hb0021c-00
1230	1230	Page 34 of 45
1231	1231	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1232	1232
1233	1233
1234	1234
1235	1235	abandonment by the tenant, the landlord is not required to 826
1236	1236	comply with s. 715.104 and is not lia ble or responsible for 827
1237	1237	storage or disposition of the tenant's personal property; if 828
1238	1238	provided in the rental agreement, there must be printed or 829
1239	1239	clearly stamped on such rental agreement a legend in 830
1240	1240	substantially the following form: 831
1241	1241	BY SIGNING THIS RENTAL AGR EEMENT, THE TENANT AGREES THAT UPON 832
1242	1242	SURRENDER, ABANDONMENT, OR RECOVERY OF POSSESSION OF THE 833
1243	1243	DWELLING UNIT DUE TO THE DEATH OF THE LAST REMAINING TENANT, AS 834
1244	1244	PROVIDED BY CHAPTER 83, FLORIDA STATUTES, THE LANDLORD IS SHALL 835
1245	1245	NOT BE LIABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR STORAGE OR DISPOSITION OF THE 836
1246	1246	TENANT'S PERSONAL PROPERTY. 837
1247	1247	For the purposes of this section, abandonment is determined 838
1248	1248	shall be as provided set forth in s. 83.59(3)(c). 839
1249	1249	(11)(6) A landlord who violates any provision of this 840
1250	1250	section is shall be liable to the tenant for actual and 841
1251	1251	consequential damages or 3 months' rent, whichever is greater, 842
1252	1252	and costs, including attorney attorney's fees. Subsequent or 843
1253	1253	repeated violations that are not contemporaneous with the 844
1254	1254	initial violation are shall be subject to separate awards of 845
1255	1255	damages. 846
1256	1256	(12)(7) A violation of this section constitutes 847
1257	1257	irreparable harm for the purposes of injunctive relief. 848
1258	1258	(13)(8) The remedies provided by this section are not 849
1259	1259	exclusive and do not preclude the tenant from p ursuing any other 850
1260	1260
1261	1261	HB 21C 2023C
1262	1262
1263	1263
1264	1264
1265	1265	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1266	1266	hb0021c-00
1267	1267	Page 35 of 45
1268	1268	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1269	1269
1270	1270
1271	1271
1272	1272	remedy at law or equity that the tenant may have. The remedies 851
1273	1273	provided by this section shall also apply to a servicemember or 852
1274	1274	person who is a prospective tenant who has been discriminated 853
1275	1275	against under subsection (3) or subsection (4) subsection (3). 854
1276	1276	Section 15. Section 83.675, Florida Statutes, is created 855
1277	1277	to read: 856
1278	1278	83.675 Tenant opportunity to purchase. — 857
1279	1279	(1) For purposes of this section, the term: 858
1280	1280	(a) "Bona fide offer of sale" means an offer for a price, 859
1281	1281	and, including other ma terial terms, that is at least as 860
1282	1282	favorable as what would be accepted by a purchaser in an arm's 861
1283	1283	length third-party contract, that is comparable to that at which 862
1284	1284	a willing seller and a willing buyer would sell and purchase the 863
1285	1285	dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is 864
1286	1286	located, or that is the appraised value. 865
1287	1287	(b) "Highest and best use" means the reasonable legal use 866
1288	1288	of a dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is 867
1289	1289	located that is physically possible, appropriately supporte d, 868
1290	1290	and financially feasible and that results in the highest value 869
1291	1291	of the dwelling unit or premises on which the dwelling unit is 870
1292	1292	located. 871
1293	1293	(c) "Matter-of-right" means the appropriate land use, 872
1294	1294	development density, or building requirements of the dwelling 873
1295	1295	unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is located under 874
1296	1296	zoning regulations and law. 875
1297	1297
1298	1298	HB 21C 2023C
1299	1299
1300	1300
1301	1301
1302	1302	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1303	1303	hb0021c-00
1304	1304	Page 36 of 45
1305	1305	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1306	1306
1307	1307
1308	1308
1309	1309	(2) Before a landlord may sell a dwelling unit or the 876
1310	1310	premises on which a dwelling unit is located or issue a notice 877
1311	1311	to vacate the dwelling unit or premises for purposes of 878
1312	1312	demolition or discontinuance of housing use, the landlord must 879
1313	1313	give the tenant an opportunity to purchase the dwelling unit or 880
1314	1314	the premises on which the dwelling unit is located at a price 881
1315	1315	and with material terms that represent a bona fide offe r of 882
1316	1316	sale. 883
1317	1317	(3) A landlord shall provide the tenant a copy of the 884
1318	1318	offer of sale, in the preferred language of the tenant, by hand 885
1319	1319	delivery, e-mail, and certified mail. A landlord may not retain 886
1320	1320	a percentage of ownership in the dwelling unit or the premise s 887
1321	1321	on which the dwelling unit is located in the offer of sale. 888
1322	1322	(4) The sales price contained in the offer of sale may not 889
1323	1323	be more than a price comparable to that at which a willing 890
1324	1324	seller and a willing buyer would sell and purchase the dwelling 891
1325	1325	unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is located or 892
1326	1326	the appraised value of the dwelling unit or premises. 893
1327	1327	(5) The appraisal value must be based on rights a landlord 894
1328	1328	has as a matter-of-right as of the date of the offer of sale, 895
1329	1329	including any existing righ t a landlord may have to convert the 896
1330	1330	dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is 897
1331	1331	located to another use. The appraisal value may take into 898
1332	1332	consideration the highest and best use of the dwelling unit or 899
1333	1333	premises. 900
1334	1334
1335	1335	HB 21C 2023C
1336	1336
1337	1337
1338	1338
1339	1339	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1340	1340	hb0021c-00
1341	1341	Page 37 of 45
1342	1342	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1343	1343
1344	1344
1345	1345
1346	1346	(6) A tenant may challenge an offer of sale as not being a 901
1347	1347	bona fide offer of sale and request a determination of the 902
1348	1348	appraised value by an independent licensed appraiser, as defined 903
1349	1349	in s. 475.611, at the expense of the tenant, by providing 904
1350	1350	written notice to the landlord and the Di vision of Consumer 905
1351	1351	Services within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer 906
1352	1352	Services by hand delivery, electronic transmission, or certified 907
1353	1353	mail within 30 days after receipt of the offer of sale. 908
1354	1354	(7) The landlord has the burden of proof to establish t hat 909
1355	1355	an offer of sale under this section is a bona fide offer of 910
1356	1356	sale. 911
1357	1357	Section 16. Section 83.676, Florida Statutes, is created 912
1358	1358	to read: 913
1359	1359	83.676 Early termination of rental agreement by a victim 914
1360	1360	of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, o r 915
1361	1361	stalking; lock changing. — 916
1362	1362	(1) As used in this section, the term: 917
1363	1363	(a) "Dating violence" has the same meaning as in s. 918
1364	1364	784.046. 919
1365	1365	(b) "Domestic violence" has the same meaning as in s. 920
1366	1366	741.28. 921
1367	1367	(c) "Sexual violence" has the same meaning as in s. 922
1368	1368	784.046. 923
1369	1369	(d) "Stalking," as described in s. 784.048(2), means 924
1370	1370	willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly following, harassing, or 925
1371	1371
1372	1372	HB 21C 2023C
1373	1373
1374	1374
1375	1375
1376	1376	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1377	1377	hb0021c-00
1378	1378	Page 38 of 45
1379	1379	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1380	1380
1381	1381
1382	1382
1383	1383	cyberstalking another person. 926
1384	1384	(2) A landlord may not terminate a rental agreement or 927
1385	1385	evict a tenant for an incident involving actual or threatened 928
1386	1386	domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking 929
1387	1387	if the tenant or the tenant's minor child is the victim of such 930
1388	1388	actual or threatened violence or stalking. A rental agreement 931
1389	1389	may not include a provision deeming that ear ly termination of a 932
1390	1390	rental agreement because of an incident involving actual or 933
1391	1391	threatened domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, 934
1392	1392	or stalking, in which the tenant or the tenant's minor child is 935
1393	1393	a victim and not the perpetrator, is a breach of the rental 936
1394	1394	agreement. 937
1395	1395	(3)(a) If a tenant or a tenant's minor child is a victim 938
1396	1396	of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, 939
1397	1397	sexual violence, or stalking during the term of a rental 940
1398	1398	agreement, the tenant may, without penalty, terminate the rental 941
1399	1399	agreement at any time by providing the landlord with written 942
1400	1400	notice of the tenant's intent to terminate the rental agreement 943
1401	1401	and to vacate the premises because of such incident. The 944
1402	1402	termination of the rental agreement is effective immediately 945
1403	1403	upon delivery of the written notice and documentation specified 946
1404	1404	in paragraph (b), if applicable, to the landlord. 947
1405	1405	(b) Unless the landlord notifies the tenant that 948
1406	1406	documentation is not needed, a notice of termination from the 949
1407	1407	tenant required under paragraph (a ) must be accompanied by 950
1408	1408
1409	1409	HB 21C 2023C
1410	1410
1411	1411
1412	1412
1413	1413	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1414	1414	hb0021c-00
1415	1415	Page 39 of 45
1416	1416	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1417	1417
1418	1418
1419	1419
1420	1420	documentation verifying the tenant's or the tenant's minor 951
1421	1421	child's status as a victim of actual or threatened domestic 952
1422	1422	violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking and may 953
1423	1423	include: 954
1424	1424	1. A copy of an injunction for protec tion against domestic 955
1425	1425	violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking issued 956
1426	1426	to the tenant as the victim or as parent of a minor victim; 957
1427	1427	2. A copy of an order of no contact or a criminal 958
1428	1428	conviction entered by a court in a criminal case in which t he 959
1429	1429	defendant was charged with a crime relating to domestic 960
1430	1430	violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking against 961
1431	1431	the tenant or the tenant's minor child; 962
1432	1432	3. A written verification from a domestic violence center 963
1433	1433	certified under chapter 39 or a r ape crisis center as defined in 964
1434	1434	s. 794.055(2) which states that the tenant or the tenant's minor 965
1435	1435	child is a victim of actual or threatened domestic violence, 966
1436	1436	dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking; or 967
1437	1437	4. A copy of a law enforcement report document ing an 968
1438	1438	incident of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating 969
1439	1439	violence, sexual violence, or stalking against the tenant or the 970
1440	1440	tenant's minor child. 971
1441	1441	(c) A notice of termination from the tenant required under 972
1442	1442	paragraph (a) must be provided by certified mail or hand 973
1443	1443	delivery to the landlord, a person authorized to receive notices 974
1444	1444	on behalf of the landlord under s. 83.50, a resident manager, or 975
1445	1445
1446	1446	HB 21C 2023C
1447	1447
1448	1448
1449	1449
1450	1450	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1451	1451	hb0021c-00
1452	1452	Page 40 of 45
1453	1453	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1454	1454
1455	1455
1456	1456
1457	1457	the person or entity that collects the rent on behalf of the 976
1458	1458	landlord. 977
1459	1459	(d) If a rental agreement with a specific duration is 978
1460	1460	terminated by a tenant under this subsection less than 30 days 979
1461	1461	before the end of the rental agreement, the tenant is liable for 980
1462	1462	the rent for the remaining period of the rental agreement. If a 981
1463	1463	rental agreement with a specific duration is terminated by a 982
1464	1464	tenant under this subsection 30 or more days before the end of 983
1465	1465	the rental agreement, the tenant is liable for prorated rent for 984
1466	1466	a period of 30 days immediately following delivery of the notice 985
1467	1467	of termination. After compliance with this paragraph, the tenant 986
1468	1468	is released from any further obligation to pay rent, 987
1469	1469	concessions, damages, fees, or penalties, and the landlord is 988
1470	1470	not entitled to the reme dies provided in s. 83.595. 989
1471	1471	(e) If a rental agreement is terminated by a tenant under 990
1472	1472	this subsection, the landlord must comply with s. 83.49(3). A 991
1473	1473	tenant who terminates a rental agreement under this subsection 992
1474	1474	does not forfeit any deposit money or advan ce rent paid to the 993
1475	1475	landlord. 994
1476	1476	(f) This subsection does not affect a tenant's liability 995
1477	1477	for unpaid rent or other amounts owed to the landlord before the 996
1478	1478	termination of the rental agreement under this subsection. 997
1479	1479	(g) If the perpetrator of actual or threa tened domestic 998
1480	1480	violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking is also 999
1481	1481	a tenant under the same rental agreement as the tenant who is a 1000
1482	1482
1483	1483	HB 21C 2023C
1484	1484
1485	1485
1486	1486
1487	1487	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1488	1488	hb0021c-00
1489	1489	Page 41 of 45
1490	1490	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1491	1491
1492	1492
1493	1493
1494	1494	victim, or whose minor child is a victim, of such actual or 1001
1495	1495	threatened violence or stalking, neither the perpetra tor's 1002
1496	1496	liability for rent nor his or her other obligations under the 1003
1497	1497	rental agreement are terminated under this subsection, and the 1004
1498	1498	landlord is entitled to the rights and remedies provided by this 1005
1499	1499	part against the perpetrator. 1006
1500	1500	(4)(a) A tenant or a tenant' s minor child who is a victim 1007
1501	1501	of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, 1008
1502	1502	sexual violence, or stalking and who wishes to remain in the 1009
1503	1503	dwelling unit may make a written request to the landlord 1010
1504	1504	accompanied by any one of the documents listed i n paragraph 1011
1505	1505	(3)(b), and the landlord shall, within 24 hours after receipt of 1012
1506	1506	the request, change the locks of the tenant's dwelling unit and 1013
1507	1507	provide the tenant with a key to the new locks. 1014
1508	1508	(b) If the landlord fails to change the locks within 24 1015
1509	1509	hours, the tenant may change the locks without the landlord's 1016
1510	1510	permission, notwithstanding any contrary provision in the rental 1017
1511	1511	agreement or other applicable rules or regulations imposed by 1018
1512	1512	the landlord, if all of the following conditions have been met: 1019
1513	1513	1. The locks are changed in like manner as if the landlord 1020
1514	1514	had changed the locks, with locks of similar or better quality 1021
1515	1515	than the original locks. 1022
1516	1516	2. The landlord is notified within 24 hours after the 1023
1517	1517	changing of the locks. 1024
1518	1518	3. The landlord is provided a key to t he new locks within 1025
1519	1519
1520	1520	HB 21C 2023C
1521	1521
1522	1522
1523	1523
1524	1524	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1525	1525	hb0021c-00
1526	1526	Page 42 of 45
1527	1527	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1528	1528
1529	1529
1530	1530
1531	1531	a reasonable time. 1026
1532	1532	(c) If the locks are changed under this subsection, the 1027
1533	1533	landlord is not liable to any person who does not have access to 1028
1534	1534	the dwelling unit. 1029
1535	1535	(5) A landlord may not refuse to enter into a rental 1030
1536	1536	agreement for a dwel ling unit, refuse to negotiate for the 1031
1537	1537	rental of a dwelling unit, make a dwelling unit unavailable, or 1032
1538	1538	retaliate in the rental of a dwelling unit because: 1033
1539	1539	(a) The tenant, prospective tenant, or minor child of the 1034
1540	1540	tenant or prospective tenant is a victim of actual or threatened 1035
1541	1541	domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or 1036
1542	1542	stalking; or 1037
1543	1543	(b) The tenant or prospective tenant has previously 1038
1544	1544	terminated a rental agreement because of an incident involving 1039
1545	1545	actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, sexual 1040
1546	1546	violence, or stalking in which the tenant, prospective tenant, 1041
1547	1547	or minor child of the tenant or prospective tenant was a victim. 1042
1548	1548	1043
1549	1549	However, the landlord may refuse to enter into a rental 1044
1550	1550	agreement, negotiate for the rental of a dwelling uni t, or make 1045
1551	1551	a dwelling unit available if the tenant or prospective tenant 1046
1552	1552	fails to comply with the landlord's request for documentation of 1047
1553	1553	an incident of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating 1048
1554	1554	violence, sexual violence, or stalking that occurred bef ore 1049
1555	1555	termination of a prior rental agreement. A landlord's request 1050
1556	1556
1557	1557	HB 21C 2023C
1558	1558
1559	1559
1560	1560
1561	1561	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1562	1562	hb0021c-00
1563	1563	Page 43 of 45
1564	1564	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1565	1565
1566	1566
1567	1567
1568	1568	for documentation is satisfied upon the tenant's or prospective 1051
1569	1569	tenant's provision of any one of the documents listed in 1052
1570	1570	paragraph (3)(b). 1053
1571	1571	(6) All information provided to a landlord under 1054
1572	1572	subsections (3), (4), and (5), including the fact that a tenant, 1055
1573	1573	prospective tenant, or a tenant's or prospective tenant's minor 1056
1574	1574	child is a victim of actual or threatened domestic violence, 1057
1575	1575	dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking, and including the 1058
1576	1576	tenant's forwarding address, is confidential. The landlord may 1059
1577	1577	not enter such information into any shared database or provide 1060
1578	1578	the information to any other person or entity, except to the 1061
1579	1579	extent such disclosure is: 1062
1580	1580	(a) Made to a person specified in paragra ph (3)(c) solely 1063
1581	1581	for a legitimate business purpose; 1064
1582	1582	(b) Requested, or consented to, in writing by the tenant 1065
1583	1583	or the tenant's legal guardian; 1066
1584	1584	(c) Required for use in a judicial proceeding; or 1067
1585	1585	(d) Otherwise required by law. 1068
1586	1586	(7) A tenant or prospective tenant, on his or her own 1069
1587	1587	behalf or on behalf of his or her minor child, may file a civil 1070
1588	1588	action against a landlord for a violation of this section. A 1071
1589	1589	landlord who violates subsection (5) or subsection (6) is 1072
1590	1590	civilly liable to the victim for $1,000 for punitive damages, 1073
1591	1591	actual and consequential damages, and court costs, including 1074
1592	1592	reasonable attorney fees, unless the landlord can show that this 1075
1593	1593
1594	1594	HB 21C 2023C
1595	1595
1596	1596
1597	1597
1598	1598	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1599	1599	hb0021c-00
1600	1600	Page 44 of 45
1601	1601	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1602	1602
1603	1603
1604	1604
1605	1605	was the landlord's first violation and the violation was not 1076
1606	1606	committed in bad faith. S ubsequent or repeated violations that 1077
1607	1607	are not contemporaneous with the initial violation are subject 1078
1608	1608	to separate awards of damages. 1079
1609	1609	(8) The provisions of this section may not be waived or 1080
1610	1610	modified by a rental agreement. 1081
1611	1611	Section 17. Subsection (14) is added to section 163.31801, 1082
1612	1612	Florida Statutes, to read: 1083
1613	1613	163.31801 Impact fees; short title; intent; minimum 1084
1614	1614	requirements; audits; challenges. — 1085
1615	1615	(14) A local government may adopt by ordinance or a 1086
1616	1616	special district may adopt by resolution an impact fee th at is 1087
1617	1617	charged to a developer when residents are displaced from their 1088
1618	1618	homes due to gentrification by the developer. The revenue 1089
1619	1619	generated from the impact fee must be used for affordable 1090
1620	1620	housing in the county, municipality, or special district that 1091
1621	1621	adopted such impact fee. 1092
1622	1622	Section 18. Section 201.025, Florida Statutes, is created 1093
1623	1623	to read: 1094
1624	1624	201.025 Tax on deeds relating to residential property 1095
1625	1625	purchased by private equity firms. — 1096
1626	1626	(1) When a deed, an instrument, or other writing for a 1097
1627	1627	residential single-family dwelling, a manufactured home, or an 1098
1628	1628	apartment complex is granted, assigned, transferred, or 1099
1629	1629	otherwise conveyed to a purchaser who is a private equity firm 1100
1630	1630
1631	1631	HB 21C 2023C
1632	1632
1633	1633
1634	1634
1635	1635	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1637	1637	Page 45 of 45
1638	1638	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1639	1639
1640	1640
1641	1641
1642	1642	or corporation that has at least $20 million in assets, the tax 1101
1643	1643	is $100 on each $100 of the co nsideration. 1102
1644	1644	(2) All documentary stamp tax revenues generated under 1103
1645	1645	this section must be deposited into the Florida Affordable 1104
1646	1646	Housing Trust Fund. 1105
1647	1647	(3) Taxes imposed by this section do not apply to an 1106
1648	1648	assignment, a deed, a transfer, a conveyance, or oth er 1107
1649	1649	disposition, which arises out of a transfer of real property if 1108
1650	1650	the purchaser is: 1109
1651	1651	(a) A nonprofit organization as defined in s. 201.02(6). 1110
1652	1652	(b) A government entity as defined in s. 768.295(2). 1111
1653	1653	(c) A person purchasing such real property pursuant to a 1112
1654	1654	government program to provide housing to low -income persons as 1113
1655	1655	defined in s. 420.0004(11). 1114
1656	1656	Section 19. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 1115