Florida 2023 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1407 Compare Versions

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

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3	3	HB 1407 2023
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7	7	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
8	8	hb1407-00
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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
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12	12
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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 the purpose of the department; requiring a 8
22	22	report on the implementation of an empty homes tax be 9
23	23	provided to the Governor and Legislature by a 10
24	24	specified date; providing government reorganization 11
25	25	for certain chapters of law; amending s. 83.43, F.S.; 12
26	26	revising definitions; creating s. 83.455, F.S.; 13
27	27	providing requirements for rental agreements; 14
28	28	requiring landlords to provide certain information 15
29	29	with rental agreements; amending s. 83.46, F.S.; 16
30	30	requiring that a landlord provide written notice of a 17
31	31	rent increase to a tenant by a specified time; 18
32	32	requiring such notice to include an option for 19
33	33	mediation under certain circumstances; amending s. 20
34	34	83.47, F.S.; providing that certain provisions in a 21
35	35	rental agreement are void and unenforceable; amending 22
36	36	s. 83.49, F.S.; removing the option for a landlord to 23
37	37	deposit certain money into a non -interest-bearing 24
38	38	account; revising written notice requirements to 25
39	39
40	40	HB 1407 2023
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42	42
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45	45	hb1407-00
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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	tenants; providing for damages if a landlord fails to 26
52	52	meet certain requirements; amending s. 83.51, F.S.; 27
53	53	requiring a landlord to inspect a dwelling unit at a 28
54	54	specified time to ensure compliance with applicable 29
55	55	codes; amending s. 83.54, F.S.; requiring certain 30
56	56	records be removed from a tenant's credit report under 31
57	57	certain circumstances; amending s. 83.56, F.S.; 32
58	58	revising and specifying grounds for termination of a 33
59	59	rental agreement; requiring landlords to provide 34
60	60	certain tenants a specified amount of time to vacate 35
61	61	the premises after delivery of a notice to terminate 36
62	62	the rental agreement before bringing a specified 37
63	63	action; conforming provisions to changes made by the 38
64	64	act; conforming a cross -reference; amending s. 83.60, 39
65	65	F.S.; removing a requirement that certain money be 40
66	66	paid into the registry of the court; creating s. 41
67	67	83.626, F.S.; authorizing tenants and mobile home 42
68	68	owners who are defendants in certain eviction 43
69	69	proceedings to file a motion with the court to have 44
70	70	the records of such proceedings sealed and to have 45
71	71	their names substituted on the progress docket under 46
72	72	certain conditions; providing applicability; requiring 47
73	73	the court to grant such motions if certain 48
74	74	requirements are met; authorizing that such relief be 49
75	75	granted only once; requiring tenants and mobile home 50
76	76
77	77	HB 1407 2023
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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	owners to submit a specified sworn statement under 51
89	89	penalty of perjury with their motion; requiring the 52
90	90	court to substitute a defendant's name on the progress 53
91	91	docket if a judgment is entered in favor of the 54
92	92	defendant; providing exceptions; providing retroactive 55
93	93	applicability; amending s. 83.63, F.S.; conforming a 56
94	94	cross-reference; amending s. 83.67, F.S.; prohibiting 57
95	95	a landlord from engaging in certain conduct; providing 58
96	96	definitions; conforming a cross -reference to changes 59
97	97	made by the act; creating s. 83.675, F.S.; providing 60
98	98	definitions; requiring a landlord to gi ve tenants the 61
99	99	opportunity to purchase the dwelling unit or premises 62
100	100	under certain circumstances; providing requirements 63
101	101	for an offer of sale; authorizing a tenant to 64
102	102	challenge an offer of sale; creating s. 83.676, F.S.; 65
103	103	providing definitions; prohibiting a landlord from 66
104	104	evicting a tenant or terminating a rental agreement 67
105	105	because the tenant or the tenant's minor child is a 68
106	106	victim of actual or threatened domestic violence, 69
107	107	dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking; 70
108	108	specifying that a rental agreement may not contain 71
109	109	certain provisions; authorizing a victim of such 72
110	110	actual or threatened violence or stalking to terminate 73
111	111	a rental agreement under certain circumstances; 74
112	112	requiring certain documentation and written notice to 75
113	113
114	114	HB 1407 2023
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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	landlord; providing for liability for rent for both 76
126	126	the tenant and the perpetrator, if applicable; 77
127	127	specifying that a tenant does not forfeit certain 78
128	128	money paid to the landlord for terminating the rental 79
129	129	agreement under certain circumstances; requiring a 80
130	130	landlord to change the locks of the dwel ling unit 81
131	131	within a specified period under certain circumstances; 82
132	132	authorizing the tenant to change the locks of the 83
133	133	dwelling unit under certain circumstances; prohibiting 84
134	134	certain actions by a landlord under certain 85
135	135	circumstances; authorizing filing of a civ il action 86
136	136	and an award of damages, fees, and costs under certain 87
137	137	circumstances; prohibiting the waiver of certain 88
138	138	provisions; amending ss. 125.0103, and 166.043, F.S.; 89
139	139	removing provisions that require local government 90
140	140	measures that impose rent controls to expire within a 91
141	141	specified time period unless they are extended or 92
142	142	renewed in accordance with law; conforming cross -93
143	143	references; amending s. 163.31801, F.S.; authorizing 94
144	144	local governments and special districts to adopt a 95
145	145	specified impact fee; requiring that the revenue 96
146	146	generated from such impact fee be used for a specified 97
147	147	purpose; creating s. 201.025, F.S.; providing the 98
148	148	amount of documentary stamp tax imposed on purchases 99
149	149	of certain property by certain entities; requiring 100
150	150
151	151	HB 1407 2023
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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	revenue generated by such tax to be deposited into the 101
163	163	Florida Affordable Housing Trust Fund; providing 102
164	164	exceptions; providing an effective date. 103
165	165	104
166	166	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 105
167	167	106
168	168	Section 1. This act shall be cited as the "Keep Floridians 107
169	169	Housed Act." 108
170	170	Section 2. Section 20.71, Florida Statutes, is created to 109
171	171	read: 110
172	172	20.71 Department of Housing and Tenant Rights. — 111
173	173	(1) There is created the Department of Housing and Tenant 112
174	174	Rights. 113
175	175	(2) The head of the department is the secretary, who shall 114
176	176	be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the 115
177	177	Senate. The secretary shall serve at the pleasure of and report 116
178	178	to the Governor. The secretary may appoint deputy and assistant 117
179	179	secretaries as necessary to aid the secretary in fulfilling his 118
180	180	or her statutory obligations. The secretary may create offices 119
181	181	or divisions within the department to promote efficient and 120
182	182	effective operation of the department. 121
183	183	(3) The purpose of the department is to assist the 122
184	184	Governor in working with the Legislature, state agencies, a nd 123
185	185	other interested entities to formulate and implement coherent 124
186	186	and consistent policies and strategies designed to combat 125
187	187
188	188	HB 1407 2023
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190	190
191	191
192	192	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	affordable housing and homelessness issues in the state; assist 126
200	200	with housing and urban development; and perpetuate amicable 127
201	201	landlord-tenant relationships. 128
202	202	(4) The department shall, by January 1, 2024, conduct 129
203	203	research and submit a report to the Governor, the President of 130
204	204	the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on a 131
205	205	cost-benefit analysis of implementing an empty hom es tax. 132
206	206	(5) The department shall take over the role of state 133
207	207	government from other departments that currently administer 134
208	208	chapter 83 and chapters 419 -423. 135
209	209	Section 3. Subsections (4) and (6) of section 83.43, 136
210	210	Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 137
211	211	83.43 Definitions.—As used in this part, the following 138
212	212	words and terms shall have the following meanings unless some 139
213	213	other meaning is plainly indicated: 140
214	214	(4) "Tenant" means any person entitled to occupy a 141
215	215	dwelling unit or property held out for the use of te nants 142
216	216	generally under a rental agreement. 143
217	217	(6) "Rent" means the periodic payments due the landlord 144
218	218	from the tenant for occupancy under a rental agreement and any 145
219	219	other payments due the landlord from the tenant as may be 146
220	220	designated as rent in a written ren tal agreement. The term does 147
221	221	not include deposit money, security deposits, late fees, early 148
222	222	termination fees, liquidated damages, or any other charge or fee 149
223	223	even if the charge or fee is designated as rent in a written 150
224	224
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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	rental agreement. 151
237	237	Section 4. Section 83.455, Florida Statutes, is created to 152
238	238	read: 153
239	239	83.455 Rental agreements. — 154
240	240	(1) Immediately after entering into, extending, or 155
241	241	renewing a rental agreement, the tenant must be provided a copy 156
242	242	of the rental agreement. The rental agreement must be wr itten in 157
243	243	plain language and, at the tenant's request, translated into the 158
244	244	preferred language of the tenant. 159
245	245	(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all rental 160
246	246	agreements entered into, extended, or renewed on or after July 161
247	247	1, 2023, must include th e following provisions: 162
248	248	(a) Before a private sale or transfer of title of the 163
249	249	dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is 164
250	250	located, the landlord must provide the tenant with the right of 165
251	251	first refusal to purchase the dwelling unit or premi ses as 166
252	252	provided under s. 83.675. 167
253	253	(b) If a landlord chooses not to extend or renew a rental 168
254	254	agreement, he or she must provide the tenant 60 days' notice of 169
255	255	his or her decision and provide a written explanation for such 170
256	256	decision. 171
257	257	(c) If a rental agreemen t provision authorizes termination 172
258	258	of the rental agreement by the landlord without cause, such 173
259	259	provision must require the landlord to provide the tenant just 174
260	260	compensation and comprehensive relocation assistance. 175
261	261
262	262	HB 1407 2023
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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
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272	272
273	273	(d) A landlord may not terminate a tenancy for cause 176
274	274	during a state of emergency declared by the Governor under 177
275	275	chapter 252. 178
276	276	(e) During a state of emergency declared by the Governor 179
277	277	under chapter 252, a tenant may install wind resistance 180
278	278	improvements, as defined in s. 163.08(2)(b)3., to the dwel ling 181
279	279	unit at the tenant's expense. 182
280	280	(f) A landlord may not terminate a tenancy because a 183
281	281	tenant establishes, attempts to establish, or participates in a 184
282	282	tenant organization. 185
283	283	Section 5. Subsection (4) is added to section 83.46, 186
284	284	Florida Statutes, to rea d: 187
285	285	83.46 Rent; duration of tenancies. — 188
286	286	(4) A landlord must provide to a tenant a written notice, 189
287	287	by certified mail or hand delivery, of a planned rent increase 190
288	288	at least 60 days before the rental agreement renewal period. If 191
289	289	the rent increase is more th an 5 percent, the landlord must 192
290	290	provide notice, by certified mail or hand delivery, at least 3 193
291	291	months before the rental agreement renewal period. If the rent 194
292	292	increase is more than 5 percent, the notice must also contain a 195
293	293	statement that the tenant may elec t to participate in nonbinding 196
294	294	mediation, at the expense of the tenant, by providing written 197
295	295	notice to the landlord, by certified mail or hand delivery, 198
296	296	within 14 days after receipt of the notice of the rent increase. 199
297	297	For a tenancy without a specific durat ion, the landlord must 200
298	298
299	299	HB 1407 2023
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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
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308	308
309	309
310	310	provide written notice, by certified mail or hand delivery, of a 201
311	311	planned rent increase within the timeframes provided in s. 202
312	312	83.57. 203
313	313	Section 6. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (1) of 204
314	314	section 83.47, Florida Statutes, to read: 205
315	315	83.47 Prohibited provisions in rental agreements. — 206
316	316	(1) A provision in a rental agreement is void and 207
317	317	unenforceable to the extent that it: 208
318	318	(c) Purports that early termination of a rental agreement 209
319	319	because of an incident involving actual or threatened d omestic 210
320	320	violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking, in 211
321	321	which the tenant or the tenant's minor child is a victim and not 212
322	322	the perpetrator, is a breach of the rental agreement. 213
323	323	Section 7. Subsections (1) through (9) of section 83.49, 214
324	324	Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (2) through 215
325	325	(10), respectively, present subsections (1) through (5), (7), 216
326	326	and (9) are amended, and a new subsection (1) is added to that 217
327	327	section, to read: 218
328	328	83.49 Deposit money or advance rent; duty of landlord and 219
329	329	tenant.— 220
330	330	(1)(a) A landlord may not charge a tenant a security 221
331	331	deposit that is more than 1 month's rent. 222
332	332	(b) The landlord must allow the tenant, in his or her 223
333	333	discretion, to pay the total amount of the security deposit in 224
334	334	12 equal payments to be paid at the same time and in the same 225
335	335
336	336	HB 1407 2023
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340	340	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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
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345	345
346	346
347	347	manner as the tenant's rent. If the duration of the rental 226
348	348	agreement is less than 1 year, the total amount of the deposit 227
349	349	must be paid in equal monthly payments based on the duration of 228
350	350	the tenancy and be paid at the same time and in the same manner 229
351	351	as the tenant's rent. 230
352	352	(c) If a tenant pays his or her security deposit according 231
353	353	to paragraph (b), when the rental agreement is terminated or the 232
354	354	tenant vacates or abandons the premises before the expiration of 233
355	355	the term specified in the rental agreement, the tenant is 234
356	356	entitled to a refund equivalent to the amount of the security 235
357	357	deposit that he or she already paid, minus any deductions 236
358	358	properly claimed by the landlord under subsection (4) for 237
359	359	damages. 238
360	360	(2)(1) Whenever money is dep osited or advanced by a tenant 239
361	361	on a rental agreement as security for performance of the rental 240
362	362	agreement or as advance rent for other than the next immediate 241
363	363	rental period, the landlord or the landlord's agent shall 242
364	364	either: 243
365	365	(a) Hold the total amount of s uch money in a separate non -244
366	366	interest-bearing account in a Florida banking institution for 245
367	367	the benefit of the tenant or tenants. The landlord shall not 246
368	368	commingle such moneys with any other funds of the landlord or 247
369	369	hypothecate, pledge, or in any other way ma ke use of such moneys 248
370	370	until such moneys are actually due the landlord; 249
371	371	(a)(b) Hold the total amount of such money in a separate 250
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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
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383	383
384	384	interest-bearing account in a Florida banking institution for 251
385	385	the benefit of the tenant or tenants, in which case the tenant 252
386	386	shall receive and collect interest in an amount of at least 75 253
387	387	percent of the annualized average interest rate payable on such 254
388	388	account or interest at the rate of 5 percent per year, simple 255
389	389	interest, whichever the landlord elects. The landlord shall not 256
390	390	commingle such moneys with any other funds of the landlord or 257
391	391	hypothecate, pledge, or in any other way make use of such moneys 258
392	392	until such moneys are actually due the landlord; or 259
393	393	(b)(c) Post a surety bond, executed by the landlord as 260
394	394	principal and a surety c ompany authorized and licensed to do 261
395	395	business in the state as surety, with the clerk of the circuit 262
396	396	court in the county in which the dwelling unit is located in the 263
397	397	total amount of the security deposits and advance rent he or she 264
398	398	holds on behalf of the ten ants or $50,000, whichever is less. 265
399	399	The bond shall be conditioned upon the faithful compliance of 266
400	400	the landlord with the provisions of this section and shall run 267
401	401	to the Governor for the benefit of any tenant injured by the 268
402	402	landlord's violation of the provis ions of this section. In 269
403	403	addition to posting the surety bond, the landlord shall pay to 270
404	404	the tenant interest at the rate of 5 percent per year, simple 271
405	405	interest. A landlord, or the landlord's agent, engaged in the 272
406	406	renting of dwelling units in five or more co unties, who holds 273
407	407	deposit moneys or advance rent and who is otherwise subject to 274
408	408	the provisions of this section, may, in lieu of posting a surety 275
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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	bond in each county, elect to post a surety bond in the form and 276
422	422	manner provided in this paragraph with the of fice of the 277
423	423	Secretary of State. The bond shall be in the total amount of the 278
424	424	security deposit or advance rent held on behalf of tenants or in 279
425	425	the amount of $250,000, whichever is less. The bond shall be 280
426	426	conditioned upon the faithful compliance of the landl ord with 281
427	427	the provisions of this section and shall run to the Governor for 282
428	428	the benefit of any tenant injured by the landlord's violation of 283
429	429	this section. In addition to posting a surety bond, the landlord 284
430	430	shall pay to the tenant interest on the security dep osit or 285
431	431	advance rent held on behalf of that tenant at the rate of 5 286
432	432	percent per year simple interest. 287
433	433	(3)(2) The landlord shall, in the rental lease agreement 288
434	434	or within 30 days after receipt of advance rent or a security 289
435	435	deposit, give written notice to t he tenant which includes 290
436	436	disclosure of the advance rent or security deposit. Subsequent 291
437	437	to providing such written notice, if the landlord changes the 292
438	438	manner or location in which he or she is holding the advance 293
439	439	rent or security deposit, he or she must noti fy the tenant 294
440	440	within 30 days after the change as provided in paragraphs (a) -295
441	441	(d). The landlord is not required to give new or additional 296
442	442	notice solely because the depository has merged with another 297
443	443	financial institution, changed its name, or transferred 298
444	444	ownership to a different financial institution. This subsection 299
445	445	does not apply to any landlord who rents fewer than five 300
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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
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457	457
458	458	individual dwelling units. Failure to give this notice is not a 301
459	459	defense to the payment of rent when due. The written notice 302
460	460	must: 303
461	461	(a) Be given in person or by mail to the tenant. 304
462	462	(b) State the name and address of the depository where the 305
463	463	advance rent or security deposit is being held or state that the 306
464	464	landlord has posted a surety bond as provided by law. 307
465	465	(c) State that whether the tenant is entitled to interest 308
466	466	on the deposit and the amount of the interest . 309
467	467	(d) Contain the following disclosure: 310
468	468	YOUR RENTAL AGREEMENT LEASE REQUIRES PAYMENT OF CERTAIN 311
469	469	DEPOSITS. THE LANDLORD MAY TRANSFER ADVANCE RENTS TO THE 312
470	470	LANDLORD'S ACCOUNT AS THEY ARE DUE AND WITHOUT NOTICE. WHEN YOU 313
471	471	MOVE OUT, YOU MUST GIVE THE LANDLORD YOUR NEW ADDRESS SO THAT 314
472	472	THE LANDLORD CAN SEND YOU NOTICES REGARDING YOUR DEPOSIT. THE 315
473	473	LANDLORD MUST MAIL YOU NOTICE, WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER YOU MOVE 316
474	474	OUT, OF THE LANDLORD'S INTENT TO IMPOSE A CLAIM AGAINST THE 317
475	475	DEPOSIT. IF YOU DO NOT REPLY TO THE LANDLORD STATING YOUR 318
476	476	OBJECTION TO THE CLAIM WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE 319
477	477	LANDLORD'S NOTICE, THE LANDLORD WILL COLLECT THE CLAIM AND MUST 320
478	478	MAIL YOU THE REMAINING DEPOSIT, IF ANY. 321
479	479	IF THE LANDLORD FAILS TO TIMELY MAIL YOU NOTICE, THE LANDLORD 322
480	480	MUST RETURN THE DEPOSIT BUT MAY LATER FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU 323
481	481	FOR DAMAGES. IF YOU FAIL TO TIMELY OBJECT TO A CLAIM, THE 324
482	482	LANDLORD MAY COLLECT FROM THE DEPOSIT, BUT YOU MAY LATER FILE A 325
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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
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495	495	LAWSUIT CLAIMING A REFUND. 326
496	496	YOU SHOULD ATTEMPT TO INFORMALLY RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BEFORE 327
497	497	FILING A LAWSUIT. GENERALLY, THE PARTY IN WHOSE FAVOR A JUDGMENT 328
498	498	IS RENDERED WILL BE AWARDED COSTS AND ATTORNEY FEES PAYABLE BY 329
499	499	THE LOSING PARTY. 330
500	500	THIS DISCLOSURE IS BASIC. PLEASE REFER TO PART II OF CHAPTER 83, 331
501	501	FLORIDA STATUTES, TO DETERMINE YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND 332
502	502	OBLIGATIONS. 333
503	503	(4)(3) The landlord or the landlord's agent may d isburse 334
504	504	advance rents from the deposit account to the landlord's benefit 335
505	505	when the advance rental period commences and without notice to 336
506	506	the tenant. For all other deposits: 337
507	507	(a) Upon the vacating of the premises for termination of 338
508	508	the rental agreement lease, if the landlord does not intend to 339
509	509	impose a claim on the security deposit, the landlord must shall 340
510	510	have 15 days to return the security deposit together with 341
511	511	interest within 30 days after the tenant vacates the premises. 342
512	512	if otherwise required, or The landlord has shall have 30 days 343
513	513	from when the tenant vacates the premises to give the tenant 344
514	514	written notice by certified mail to the tenant's last known 345
515	515	mailing address of his or her intention to impose a claim on the 346
516	516	deposit and the reason for imposing the c laim. The notice must 347
517	517	shall contain a statement in substantially the following form: 348
518	518	This is a notice of my intention to impose a claim for 349
519	519	damages in the amount of .... upon your security deposit, due to 350
520	520
521	521	HB 1407 2023
522	522
523	523
524	524
525	525	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
526	526	hb1407-00
527	527	Page 15 of 46
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	..... It is sent to you as required by s. 83.49(4) s. 83.49(3), 351
533	533	Florida Statutes. You are hereby notified that you must object 352
534	534	in writing to this deduction from your security deposit within 353
535	535	15 days from the time you receive this notice or I will be 354
536	536	authorized to deduct my claim from your security deposit. Your 355
537	537	objection must be sent to ...(landlord's address).... 356
538	538	If the landlord fails to give the required notice within the 30 -357
539	539	day period, he or she forfeits the right to impose a claim upon 358
540	540	the security deposit and may not seek a setoff against the 359
541	541	deposit but may file an action for damages after return of the 360
542	542	deposit. 361
543	543	(b) Unless the tenant objects to the imposition of the 362
544	544	landlord's claim or the amount thereof within 15 days after 363
545	545	receipt of the landlord's notice of intention to impose a claim, 364
546	546	the landlord may then deduct the amount of his or her claim and 365
547	547	must shall remit the balance of the deposit and any interest to 366
548	548	the tenant within 30 days after the date of the notice of 367
549	549	intention to impose a claim for damages. The failure of the 368
550	550	tenant to make a time ly objection does not waive any rights of 369
551	551	the tenant to seek damages in a separate action. 370
552	552	(c) If either party institutes an action in a court of 371
553	553	competent jurisdiction to adjudicate the party's right to the 372
554	554	security deposit, the prevailing party is enti tled to receive 373
555	555	his or her court costs plus a reasonable fee for his or her 374
556	556	attorney. If a court finds that the landlord failed to meet the 375
557	557
558	558	HB 1407 2023
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560	560
561	561
562	562	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	requirements of this section, the court must award the tenant 376
570	570	damages equal to three times the amount of the tenant' s security 377
571	571	deposit. The court shall advance the cause on the calendar. 378
572	572	(d) Compliance with this section by an individual or 379
573	573	business entity authorized to conduct business in this state, 380
574	574	including Florida-licensed real estate brokers and sales 381
575	575	associates, constitutes compliance with all other relevant 382
576	576	Florida Statutes pertaining to security deposits held pursuant 383
577	577	to a rental agreement or other landlord -tenant relationship. 384
578	578	Enforcement personnel shall look solely to this section to 385
579	579	determine compliance. Thi s section prevails over any conflicting 386
580	580	provisions in chapter 475 and in other sections of the Florida 387
581	581	Statutes, and operates shall operate to permit licensed real 388
582	582	estate brokers to disburse security deposits and deposit money 389
583	583	without having to comply with the notice and settlement 390
584	584	procedures contained in s. 475.25(1)(d). 391
585	585	(5)(4) The provisions of This section does do not apply to 392
586	586	transient rentals by hotels or motels as defined in chapter 509 ; 393
587	587	or nor do they apply in those instances in which the amount of 394
588	588	rent or deposit, or both, is regulated by law or by rules or 395
589	589	regulations of a public body, including public housing 396
590	590	authorities and federally administered or regulated housing 397
591	591	programs including s. 202, s. 221(d)(3) and (4), s. 236, or s. 8 398
592	592	of the National Housing Act, as amended, other than for rent 399
593	593	stabilization. With the exception of subsections (4), (6), and 400
594	594
595	595	HB 1407 2023
596	596
597	597
598	598
599	599	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	(7) (3), (5), and (6), this section is not applicable to housing 401
607	607	authorities or public housing agencies created pursuant to 402
608	608	chapter 421 or other s tatutes. 403
609	609	(6)(5) Except when otherwise provided by the terms of a 404
610	610	written rental agreement lease, any tenant who vacates or 405
611	611	abandons the premises before prior to the expiration of the term 406
612	612	specified in the written rental agreement lease, or any tenant 407
613	613	who vacates or abandons premises which are the subject of a 408
614	614	tenancy from week to week, month to month, quarter to quarter, 409
615	615	or year to year, must shall give at least 7 days' written 410
616	616	notice, which notice must include the address where the tenant 411
617	617	may be reached, by certified mail or personal delivery to the 412
618	618	landlord before prior to vacating or abandoning the premises 413
619	619	which notice shall include the address where the tenant may be 414
620	620	reached. Failure to give such notice relieves shall relieve the 415
621	621	landlord of the notic e requirement of paragraph (3)(a) but does 416
622	622	shall not waive any right the tenant may have to the security 417
623	623	deposit or any part of it. 418
624	624	(8)(7) Upon the sale or transfer of title of the rental 419
625	625	property from one owner to another, or upon a change in the 420
626	626	designated rental agent, any and all security deposits or 421
627	627	advance rents being held for the benefit of the tenants must 422
628	628	shall be transferred to the new owner or agent, together with 423
629	629	any earned interest and with an accurate accounting showing the 424
630	630	amounts to be credited to each tenant account. Upon the transfer 425
631	631
632	632	HB 1407 2023
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634	634
635	635
636	636	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	of such funds and records to the new owner or agent, and upon 426
644	644	transmittal of a written receipt therefor, the transferor is 427
645	645	free from the obligation imposed in subsection (2)(1) to hold 428
646	646	such moneys on behalf o f the tenant. There is a rebuttable 429
647	647	presumption that any new owner or agent received the security 430
648	648	deposit from the previous owner or agent; however, this 431
649	649	presumption is limited to 1 month's rent. This subsection does 432
650	650	not excuse the landlord or agent for a violation of other 433
651	651	provisions of this section while in possession of such deposits. 434
652	652	(10)(9) In those cases in which interest is required to be 435
653	653	paid to the tenant, The landlord shall pay directly to the 436
654	654	tenant, or credit against the current month's rent, the interest 437
655	655	due to the tenant at least once annually. However, no interest 438
656	656	may not be paid to shall be due a tenant who wrongfully 439
657	657	terminates his or her tenancy before prior to the end of the 440
658	658	rental term. 441
659	659	Section 8. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 442
660	660	83.51, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 443
661	661	83.51 Landlord's obligation to maintain premises. — 444
662	662	(1) The landlord at all times during the tenancy shall: 445
663	663	(a) Comply with the requirements of applicable building, 446
664	664	housing, and health codes . The landlord, at commencement of the 447
665	665	tenancy, must inspect the dwelling unit to ensure compliance 448
666	666	with all applicable codes ; or 449
667	667	450
668	668
669	669	HB 1407 2023
670	670
671	671
672	672
673	673	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	The landlord is not required to maintain a mobile home or other 451
681	681	structure owned by the tenant. The landlord's obligations under 452
682	682	this subsection may be altered or modified in writing with 453
683	683	respect to a single-family home or duplex. 454
684	684	Section 9. Section 83.54, Florida Statutes, is amended to 455
685	685	read: 456
686	686	83.54 Enforcement of rights and duties; civil action; 457
687	687	criminal offenses.—Any right or duty declared in this part is 458
688	688	enforceable by civil action. A right or duty enforced by civil 459
689	689	action under this section does not preclude prosecution for a 460
690	690	criminal offense related to the rental agreement or rented 461
691	691	dwelling unit or premises lease or leased property. In an action 462
692	692	brought by a tenant for wrongful termination of a rental 463
693	693	agreement, if the court finds in favor of the tenant, any 464
694	694	eviction complaint filed by the landlord must be dismissed and 465
695	695	the record of such filing removed from the tenant's credit 466
696	696	report. 467
697	697	Section 10. Subsections (5) and (6) of section 83.56, 468
698	698	Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (6) and (7), 469
699	699	respectively, subsections (2), (3), and (4), and paragraph (b) 470
700	700	of present subsection (5), and present subsection (6) are 471
701	701	amended, and new subsections (5) and (8) are added to that 472
702	702	section, to read: 473
703	703	83.56 Termination of rental agreement. — 474
704	704	(2)(a) A landlord must have good cause to terminate a 475
705	705
706	706	HB 1407 2023
707	707
708	708
709	709
710	710	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	rental agreement. The following reasons constitute good cause 476
718	718	allowing for termination o f a rental agreement: 477
719	719	1. The destruction, damage, or misuse of the landlord's or 478
720	720	other tenants' property by intentional act. 479
721	721	2. A tenant's disorderly conduct or continued unreasonable 480
722	722	disturbance. 481
723	723	3. Failure of the tenant to comply with s. 83.52. 482
724	724	4. A violation or breach of the landlord's reasonable 483
725	725	rules and regulations. 484
726	726	5. A violation or breach of covenants or agreements 485
727	727	contained in the rental agreement. 486
728	728	6. Use of the dwelling unit or premises for illegal 487
729	729	purposes or acts that the tenant has been criminally charged 488
730	730	with, including, but not limited to, the manufacture, sale, or 489
731	731	use of illegal drugs, theft of property, or assault or threats 490
732	732	on the landlord or his or her relatives, as defined in s. 491
733	733	494.001(33), or employees. 492
734	734	7. The dwelling uni t or premises are removed from the 493
735	735	rental market because the state, any political subdivision as 494
736	736	defined in s. 1.01(8), or other entity exercises its power of 495
737	737	eminent domain, the landlord seeks in good faith to permanently 496
738	738	remove the property from the rent al market, or the landlord is 497
739	739	converting the dwelling unit or premises from the rental market 498
740	740	to a condominium, cooperative, or fee simple ownership. 499
741	741	8. The dwelling unit or premises are being used as an 500
742	742
743	743	HB 1407 2023
744	744
745	745
746	746
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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	incident of employment and such employment is term inated. 501
755	755	9. The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession 502
756	756	of the dwelling unit or premises for his or her own use and 503
757	757	occupancy as a principal residence, or for the use and occupancy 504
758	758	as a principal residence by a relative, as defined in s. 505
759	759	494.001(33), of the landlord. 506
760	760	(b) If any of the violations in subparagraphs 1. -6. exist 507
761	761	the tenant materially fails to comply with s. 83.52 or material 508
762	762	provisions of the rental agreement, other than a failure to pay 509
763	763	rent, or reasonable rules or regulations , the landlord may: 510
764	764	1.(a) If the violation such noncompliance is of a nature 511
765	765	that the tenant should not be given an opportunity to cure it or 512
766	766	if the violation noncompliance constitutes a subsequent or 513
767	767	continuing violation noncompliance within 12 months after of a 514
768	768	written warning by the landlord of a similar violation, deliver 515
769	769	a written notice to the tenant specifying the violation 516
770	770	noncompliance and the landlord's intent to terminate the rental 517
771	771	agreement by reason thereof. Examples of noncompliance which are 518
772	772	of a nature that the tenant should not be given an opportunity 519
773	773	to cure include, but are not limited to, destruction, damage, or 520
774	774	misuse of the landlord's or other tenants' property by 521
775	775	intentional act or a subsequent or continued unreasonable 522
776	776	disturbance. In such event, the landlord may terminate the 523
777	777	rental agreement, and the tenant has shall have 7 days after 524
778	778	from the date that the notice is delivered to vacate the 525
779	779
780	780	HB 1407 2023
781	781
782	782
783	783
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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	premises. The notice must shall be in substantially the 526
792	792	following form: 527
793	793	You are advised that y our rental agreement lease is 528
794	794	terminated effective immediately. You shall have 7 days after 529
795	795	from the delivery of this letter to vacate the premises. This 530
796	796	action is taken because ...(cite the violation 531
797	797	noncompliance).... 532
798	798	2.(b) If the violation such noncompliance is of a nature 533
799	799	that the tenant should be given an opportunity to cure it, 534
800	800	deliver a written notice to the tenant specifying the violation 535
801	801	noncompliance, including a notice that, if the violation 536
802	802	noncompliance is not corrected within 7 days after from the date 537
803	803	that the written notice is delivered, the landlord will shall 538
804	804	terminate the rental agreement by reason thereof. Examples of 539
805	805	such noncompliance include, but are not limited to, activities 540
806	806	in contravention of the lease or this part such as having or 541
807	807	permitting unauthorized pets, guests, or vehicles; parking in an 542
808	808	unauthorized manner or permitting such parking; or failing to 543
809	809	keep the premises clean and sanitary. If such violation 544
810	810	noncompliance recurs within 12 months after receipt of such 545
811	811	notice, an eviction action may commence without delivering a 546
812	812	subsequent notice pursuant to subparagraph 1. paragraph (a) or 547
813	813	this subparagraph paragraph. The notice must shall be in 548
814	814	substantially the following form: 549
815	815	You are hereby notified that ...(cite the violation 550
816	816
817	817	HB 1407 2023
818	818
819	819
820	820
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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	noncompliance).... Demand is hereby made that you remedy the 551
829	829	violation noncompliance within 7 days after of receipt of this 552
830	830	notice or your rental agreement will be lease shall be deemed 553
831	831	terminated and you must shall vacate the premises upon such 554
832	832	termination. If this same conduct or conduct of a similar nature 555
833	833	is repeated within 12 months, your tenancy is subject to 556
834	834	termination without further warning and without your being given 557
835	835	an opportunity to cure the violation noncompliance. 558
836	836	(c) If any other reason provided in paragraph (a) exists, 559
837	837	the landlord may deliver a written notice to the tenant of the 560
838	838	landlord's intent to terminate the rental agreement. The written 561
839	839	notice must specify the reason for the termination. In such 562
840	840	event, the tenant has 7 days after the date that the notice is 563
841	841	delivered to vacate the premises. 564
842	842	(3) If the tenant fails to pay rent when due and the 565
843	843	default continues for 3 days, excluding Saturday, Sunday, and 566
844	844	legal holidays, after delivery of wr itten demand by the landlord 567
845	845	for payment of the rent or possession of the premises, or if the 568
846	846	tenant habitually pays late or fails to pay the full amount of 569
847	847	rent after being given notice of a rent increase as required in 570
848	848	s. 83.46(4), the landlord may termi nate the rental agreement. 571
849	849	Habitual late payments means more than one late payment 572
850	850	following the landlord's first written demand for payment. Legal 573
851	851	holidays for the purpose of this section shall be court -observed 574
852	852	holidays only. The 3 -day notice shall conta in a statement in 575
853	853
854	854	HB 1407 2023
855	855
856	856
857	857
858	858	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	substantially the following form: 576
866	866	You are hereby notified that you are indebted to me in the 577
867	867	sum of .... dollars for the rent and use of the premises 578
868	868	...(address of leased premises, including county)..., Florida, 579
869	869	now occupied by you and that I demand payment of the rent or 580
870	870	possession of the premises within 3 days (excluding Saturday, 581
871	871	Sunday, and legal holidays) after from the date of delivery of 582
872	872	this notice, to wit: on or before the .... day of ...., 583
873	873	...(year).... 584
874	874	...(landlord's name, add ress and phone number)... 585
875	875	586
876	876	(4) The delivery of the written notices required by 587
877	877	subsections (1), (2), and (3), and (8) must shall be by mailing 588
878	878	or delivery of a true copy thereof or, if the tenant is absent 589
879	879	from the premises, by leaving a copy thereof at the residence. 590
880	880	The notice requirements of subsections (1), (2), and (3), and 591
881	881	(8) may not be waived in the rental agreement lease. 592
882	882	(5) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, if the 593
883	883	landlord knows or reasonably should know that the tenant is 594
884	884	pregnant or there are children under the age of 18 years living 595
885	885	in the dwelling unit, the landlord must provide the tenant at 596
886	886	least 3 months after delivery of a written notice under 597
887	887	subsection (2) or subsection (3) to vacate the premises before 598
888	888	bringing an action for possession of the dwelling unit under s. 599
889	889	83.59. 600
890	890
891	891	HB 1407 2023
892	892
893	893
894	894
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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	(6)(5) 601
903	903	(b) Any tenant who wishes to defend against an action by 602
904	904	the landlord for possession of the unit for noncompliance of the 603
905	905	rental agreement or of relevant statutes must comply with s. 604
906	906	83.60(2). The court may not set a date for mediation or trial 605
907	907	unless the provisions of s. 83.60(2) have been met , but must 606
908	908	enter a default judgment for removal of the tenant with a writ 607
909	909	of possession to issue immediately if the tenant fails to comply 608
910	910	with s. 83.60(2). 609
911	911	(7)(6) If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord 610
912	912	shall comply with s. 83.49(4) s. 83.49(3). 611
913	913	(8)(a) If the landlord seeks in good faith to undertake 612
914	914	substantial repairs to the dwelling unit or premises that cannot 613
915	915	be completed while the dw elling unit is occupied, and that are 614
916	916	necessary to bring the dwelling unit or premises into compliance 615
917	917	with applicable codes and laws or under an outstanding notice of 616
918	918	code violations, the landlord may deliver a written notice to 617
919	919	the tenant of the landlord 's intent to terminate the rental 618
920	920	agreement. In such event, the tenant has 7 days after the date 619
921	921	that the notice is delivered to vacate the premises. 620
922	922	(b) A notice terminating a rental agreement under this 621
923	923	subsection must include the following information : 622
924	924	1. A statement in substantially the following form: "When 623
925	925	the needed repairs are completed on your dwelling unit or the 624
926	926	premises, the landlord must offer you the opportunity to return 625
927	927
928	928	HB 1407 2023
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930	930
931	931
932	932	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	to your dwelling unit with a rental agreement of substantially 626
940	940	the same terms and at the same rent, subject to the landlord's 627
941	941	right to obtain a rent increase for capital improvements." 628
942	942	2. If a landlord owns other residential dwelling units and 629
943	943	any such unit is available, a statement informing the tenant of 630
944	944	the existence of the available unit and an offer to enter into a 631
945	945	temporary rental agreement for the available unit or an offer to 632
946	946	enter into a new rental agreement for the available unit. The 633
947	947	landlord must offer the replacement dwelling unit to the tenant 634
948	948	at a rent based on the rent that the tenant is currently paying, 635
949	949	allowing for adjustments based on the condition, size, and other 636
950	950	amenities of the replacement unit. 637
951	951	3. An estimate of the time required to complete the 638
952	952	repairs and the date upon which it is expected that the dwelling 639
953	953	unit will be ready for habitation. 640
954	954	(c) Upon completion of the repairs of the dwelling unit or 641
955	955	premises, the landlord must offer the tenant the first right to 642
956	956	return to the dwelling unit at the same rent and under a rental 643
957	957	agreement of substantially the same terms, subject to the 644
958	958	landlord's right to obtain a rent increase for capital 645
959	959	improvements. 646
960	960	Section 11. Subsection (2) of section 83.60, Florida 647
961	961	Statutes, is amended to read: 648
962	962	83.60 Defenses to action for rent or possession; 649
963	963	procedure.— 650
964	964
965	965	HB 1407 2023
966	966
967	967
968	968
969	969	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	(2) In an action by the landlord for possession of a 651
977	977	dwelling unit, if the tenant interposes any defense other than 652
978	978	payment, including, but not limited to, the defense of a 653
979	979	defective 3-day notice, the tenant must shall pay into the 654
980	980	registry of the court the accrued rent as alleged in the 655
981	981	complaint or as determined by the court and the rent that 656
982	982	accrues during the pendency of the proceeding, when due. The 657
983	983	clerk shall notify the tenant of such requirement in the 658
984	984	summons. Failure of the tenant to pay the rent into the registry 659
985	985	of the court or to file a motion to determine the amount of rent 660
986	986	to be paid into the registry within 5 days, excluding Saturdays, 661
987	987	Sundays, and legal holidays, after the date of service of 662
988	988	process constitutes an absolute waiver o f the tenant's defenses 663
989	989	other than payment, and the landlord is entitled to an immediate 664
990	990	default judgment for removal of the tenant with a writ of 665
991	991	possession to issue without further notice or hearing thereon. 666
992	992	If a motion to determine rent is filed, docume ntation in support 667
993	993	of the allegation that the rent as alleged in the complaint is 668
994	994	in error is required. Public housing tenants or tenants 669
995	995	receiving rent subsidies are required to deposit only that 670
996	996	portion of the full rent for which they are responsible pur suant 671
997	997	to the federal, state, or local program in which they are 672
998	998	participating. 673
999	999	Section 12. Section 83.626, Florida Statutes, is created 674
1000	1000	to read: 675
1001	1001
1002	1002	HB 1407 2023
1003	1003
1004	1004
1005	1005
1006	1006	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1007	1007	hb1407-00
1008	1008	Page 28 of 46
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	83.626 Court records of eviction proceedings. — 676
1014	1014	(1) A tenant or mobile home owner who is a defendant in an 677
1015	1015	eviction proceeding under this part or s. 723.061 may file a 678
1016	1016	motion with the court to have the records of such proceeding 679
1017	1017	sealed and to have his or her name substituted with "tenant" on 680
1018	1018	the progress docket if any of the following conditions are 681
1019	1019	satisfied: 682
1020	1020	(a) The parties file a joint stipulation requesting relief 683
1021	1021	under this section. 684
1022	1022	(b) The case was dismissed. 685
1023	1023	(c) The case was resolved by settlement or stipulation of 686
1024	1024	the parties and the defendant has complied with the terms of the 687
1025	1025	agreement. 688
1026	1026	(d) A default judgment was entered against the defendant 689
1027	1027	and the defendant has satisfied any monetary award included in 690
1028	1028	the judgment. This paragraph does not apply if the action was 691
1029	1029	brought under s. 83.56(2)(a) or s. 723.061(1)(b) or (c) for 692
1030	1030	material noncompliance, other than nonpayment of rent, because 693
1031	1031	of the tenant's intentional destruction, damage, or misuse of 694
1032	1032	the landlord's property. 695
1033	1033	(e) A judgment was entered against the defendant on the 696
1034	1034	merits at least 5 years before the motion was filed under this 697
1035	1035	subsection and the defendant has satisfied any monetary award 698
1036	1036	included in the judgment. This paragraph does not apply if the 699
1037	1037	action was brought under s. 83.56(2)(a) or s. 723.061(1)(b) or 700
1038	1038
1039	1039	HB 1407 2023
1040	1040
1041	1041
1042	1042
1043	1043	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1044	1044	hb1407-00
1045	1045	Page 29 of 46
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	(c) for material noncompliance, other than nonpayment of rent, 701
1051	1051	because of the tenant's intentional destruction, damage, or 702
1052	1052	misuse of the landlord's property. 703
1053	1053	(2)(a) The court shall grant such motion without a hearing 704
1054	1054	if the requirements in paragraph (1)(a) or paragraph (1)(b) are 705
1055	1055	satisfied. 706
1056	1056	(b) If the defendant files a motion on the basis of 707
1057	1057	paragraph (1)(c), paragraph (1)(d), or paragraph (1)(e) being 708
1058	1058	satisfied, the defendant must also serve a copy of the motion on 709
1059	1059	all parties to the proceeding. If a written objection is filed 710
1060	1060	within 30 days after such service, the cour t must schedule a 711
1061	1061	hearing. If no written objection is filed within 30 days after 712
1062	1062	service of the motion, or the court determines after a hearing 713
1063	1063	that the defendant is eligible for relief, the court must grant 714
1064	1064	the motion. 715
1065	1065	(3) A tenant or mobile home owner is entitled to relief 716
1066	1066	under subsection (2) only once. When a tenant or mobile home 717
1067	1067	owner files a motion under subsection (1), he or she must also 718
1068	1068	submit a sworn statement under penalty of perjury affirming that 719
1069	1069	he or she has not previously received such re lief from a court 720
1070	1070	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" if a judgment is entered in favor 724
1074	1074	of the defendant. 725
1075	1075
1076	1076	HB 1407 2023
1077	1077
1078	1078
1079	1079
1080	1080	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1081	1081	hb1407-00
1082	1082	Page 30 of 46
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 el igible for relief under this 726
1088	1088	section if: 727
1089	1089	(a) During any 12-month period, the defendant 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 agains t 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, 2023. 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 dama ged 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 amended to 748
1110	1110	read: 749
1111	1111	83.67 Prohibited practices. — 750
1112	1112
1113	1113	HB 1407 2023
1114	1114
1115	1115
1116	1116
1117	1117	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1118	1118	hb1407-00
1119	1119	Page 31 of 46
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 limited 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 t his 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 1407 2023
1151	1151
1152	1152
1153	1153
1154	1154	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1155	1155	hb1407-00
1156	1156	Page 32 of 46
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 assigned sex at 781
1167	1167	birth. 782
1168	1168	(c) "Sexual orientation" means a person's heterosexu ality, 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 terminating the rental agreement. 787
1173	1173	(6) A landlord of any dwelling unit gove rned 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 determ ines 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 dwelling 800
1186	1186
1187	1187	HB 1407 2023
1188	1188
1189	1189
1190	1190
1191	1191	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1192	1192	hb1407-00
1193	1193	Page 33 of 46
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 Unite d 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 not 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 prop erty 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 accordance with s. 83.59(3)(d), or a lawful 823
1221	1221	eviction. If provided in the rent al agreement or a written 824
1222	1222	agreement separate from the rental agreement, upon surrender or 825
1223	1223
1224	1224	HB 1407 2023
1225	1225
1226	1226
1227	1227
1228	1228	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1229	1229	hb1407-00
1230	1230	Page 34 of 46
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 liable 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 AGREEMENT, THE TENANT AGREES THAT UPON 832
1242	1242	SURRENDER, ABANDONMENT, OR RECOVER Y 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 pursuing any ot her 850
1260	1260
1261	1261	HB 1407 2023
1262	1262
1263	1263
1264	1264
1265	1265	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1266	1266	hb1407-00
1267	1267	Page 35 of 46
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 material 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 supported, 868
1290	1290	and financially feasible and that results in the highest value 869
1291	1291	of the dwelling unit or premises. 870
1292	1292	(c) "Matter-of-right" means the appropriate land use, 871
1293	1293	development density, or building requirements of the dwelling 872
1294	1294	unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is l ocated under 873
1295	1295	zoning regulations and law. 874
1296	1296	(2) Before a landlord may sell a dwelling unit or the 875
1297	1297
1298	1298	HB 1407 2023
1299	1299
1300	1300
1301	1301
1302	1302	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1303	1303	hb1407-00
1304	1304	Page 36 of 46
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	premises on which a dwelling unit is located or issue a notice 876
1310	1310	to vacate the dwelling unit or premises for purposes of 877
1311	1311	demolition or discontinuance of housing use, the landlord must 878
1312	1312	give the tenant an opportunity to purchase the dwelling unit or 879
1313	1313	the premises at a price and with material terms that represent a 880
1314	1314	bona fide offer of sale. 881
1315	1315	(3) A landlord shall provide the tenant a copy of the 882
1316	1316	offer of sale, in the p referred language of the tenant, by hand 883
1317	1317	delivery, e-mail, and certified mail. A landlord may not retain 884
1318	1318	a percentage of ownership in the dwelling unit or the premises 885
1319	1319	on which the dwelling unit is located in the offer of sale. 886
1320	1320	(4) The sales price contai ned in the offer of sale may not 887
1321	1321	be more than a price comparable to that at which a willing 888
1322	1322	seller and a willing buyer would sell and purchase the dwelling 889
1323	1323	unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is located or 890
1324	1324	the appraised value of the dwelling un it or premises. 891
1325	1325	(5) The appraisal value must be based on rights a landlord 892
1326	1326	has as a matter-of-right as of the date of the offer of sale, 893
1327	1327	including any existing right a landlord may have to convert the 894
1328	1328	dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling u nit is 895
1329	1329	located to another use. The appraisal value may take into 896
1330	1330	consideration the highest and best use of the dwelling unit or 897
1331	1331	premises. 898
1332	1332	(6) A tenant may challenge an offer of sale as not being a 899
1333	1333	bona fide offer of sale and request a determination of th e 900
1334	1334
1335	1335	HB 1407 2023
1336	1336
1337	1337
1338	1338
1339	1339	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1340	1340	hb1407-00
1341	1341	Page 37 of 46
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	appraised value by an independent licensed appraiser, as defined 901
1347	1347	in s. 475.611, at the expense of the tenant, by providing 902
1348	1348	written notice to the landlord and the Division of Consumer 903
1349	1349	Services within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer 904
1350	1350	Services by hand delivery, electronic transmission, or certified 905
1351	1351	mail within 30 days after receipt of the offer of sale. 906
1352	1352	(7) The landlord has the burden of proof to establish that 907
1353	1353	an offer of sale under this section is a bona fide offer of 908
1354	1354	sale. 909
1355	1355	Section 16. Section 83.676, Florida Statutes, is created 910
1356	1356	to read: 911
1357	1357	83.676 Early termination of rental agreement by a victim 912
1358	1358	of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or 913
1359	1359	stalking; lock changing. — 914
1360	1360	(1) As used in this section, the term: 915
1361	1361	(a) "Dating violence" has the same meaning as in s. 916
1362	1362	784.046. 917
1363	1363	(b) "Domestic violence" has the same meaning as in s. 918
1364	1364	741.28. 919
1365	1365	(c) "Sexual violence" has the same meaning as in s. 920
1366	1366	784.046. 921
1367	1367	(d) "Stalking" has the same meaning as in s. 784.048. 922
1368	1368	(2) A landlord may not terminate a rental agreement or 923
1369	1369	evict a tenant for an incident involving actual or threatened 924
1370	1370	domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking 925
1371	1371
1372	1372	HB 1407 2023
1373	1373
1374	1374
1375	1375
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1377	1377	hb1407-00
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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	if the tenant or the tenant's minor child is the victim of such 926
1384	1384	actual or threatened violence or stalking. A rental agreement 927
1385	1385	may not include a provision deeming that early termination of a 928
1386	1386	rental agreement because of an incident involving actual or 929
1387	1387	threatened domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, 930
1388	1388	or stalking, in which the tenant or th e tenant's minor child is 931
1389	1389	a victim and not the perpetrator, is a breach of the rental 932
1390	1390	agreement. 933
1391	1391	(3)(a) If a tenant or a tenant's minor child is a victim 934
1392	1392	of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, 935
1393	1393	sexual violence, or stalking during the term of a rental 936
1394	1394	agreement, the tenant may, without penalty, terminate the rental 937
1395	1395	agreement at any time by providing the landlord with written 938
1396	1396	notice of the tenant's intent to terminate the rental agreement 939
1397	1397	and to vacate the premises because of such incide nt. The 940
1398	1398	termination of the rental agreement is effective immediately 941
1399	1399	upon delivery of the written notice and documentation specified 942
1400	1400	in paragraph (b), if applicable, to the landlord. 943
1401	1401	(b) Unless the landlord notifies the tenant that 944
1402	1402	documentation is not n eeded, a notice of termination from the 945
1403	1403	tenant required under paragraph (a) must be accompanied by 946
1404	1404	documentation verifying the tenant's or the tenant's minor 947
1405	1405	child's status as a victim of actual or threatened domestic 948
1406	1406	violence, dating violence, sexual viol ence, or stalking and may 949
1407	1407	include: 950
1408	1408
1409	1409	HB 1407 2023
1410	1410
1411	1411
1412	1412
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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	1. A copy of an injunction for protection against domestic 951
1421	1421	violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking issued 952
1422	1422	to the tenant as victim or as parent of a minor victim; 953
1423	1423	2. A copy of an order of no contact or a criminal 954
1424	1424	conviction entered by a court in a criminal case in which the 955
1425	1425	defendant was charged with a crime relating to domestic 956
1426	1426	violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking against 957
1427	1427	the tenant or the tenant's minor child; 958
1428	1428	3. A written verifica tion from a domestic violence center 959
1429	1429	certified under chapter 39 or a rape crisis center as defined in 960
1430	1430	s. 794.055 which states that the tenant or the tenant's minor 961
1431	1431	child is a victim of actual or threatened domestic violence, 962
1432	1432	dating violence, sexual violenc e, or stalking; or 963
1433	1433	4. A copy of a law enforcement report documenting an 964
1434	1434	incident of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating 965
1435	1435	violence, sexual violence, or stalking against the tenant or the 966
1436	1436	tenant's minor child. 967
1437	1437	(c) A notice of termination from t he tenant required under 968
1438	1438	paragraph (a) must be provided by certified mail or hand 969
1439	1439	delivery to the landlord, a person authorized to receive notices 970
1440	1440	on behalf of the landlord under s. 83.50, a resident manager, or 971
1441	1441	the person or entity that collects the rent on behalf of the 972
1442	1442	landlord. 973
1443	1443	(d) If a rental agreement with a specific duration is 974
1444	1444	terminated by a tenant under this subsection less than 30 days 975
1445	1445
1446	1446	HB 1407 2023
1447	1447
1448	1448
1449	1449
1450	1450	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	before the end of the rental agreement, the tenant is liable for 976
1458	1458	the rent for the remaining period of the rent al agreement. If a 977
1459	1459	rental agreement with a specific duration is terminated by a 978
1460	1460	tenant under this subsection 30 or more days before the end of 979
1461	1461	the rental agreement, the tenant is liable for prorated rent for 980
1462	1462	a period of 30 days immediately following delive ry of the notice 981
1463	1463	of termination. After compliance with this paragraph, the tenant 982
1464	1464	is released from any further obligation to pay rent, 983
1465	1465	concessions, damages, fees, or penalties, and the landlord is 984
1466	1466	not entitled to the remedies provided in s. 83.595. 985
1467	1467	(e) If a rental agreement is terminated by a tenant under 986
1468	1468	this subsection, the landlord must comply with s. 83.49(3). A 987
1469	1469	tenant who terminates a rental agreement under this subsection 988
1470	1470	does not forfeit any deposit money or advance rent paid to the 989
1471	1471	landlord. 990
1472	1472	(f) This subsection does not affect a tenant's liability 991
1473	1473	for unpaid rent or other amounts owed to the landlord before the 992
1474	1474	termination of the rental agreement under this subsection. 993
1475	1475	(g) If the perpetrator of actual or threatened domestic 994
1476	1476	violence, dating vio lence, sexual violence, or stalking is also 995
1477	1477	a tenant under the same rental agreement as the tenant who is a 996
1478	1478	victim, or whose minor child is a victim, of such actual or 997
1479	1479	threatened violence or stalking, neither the perpetrator's 998
1480	1480	liability for rent nor his or her other obligations under the 999
1481	1481	rental agreement are terminated under this subsection, and the 1000
1482	1482
1483	1483	HB 1407 2023
1484	1484
1485	1485
1486	1486
1487	1487	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1489	1489	Page 41 of 46
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	landlord is entitled to the rights and remedies provided by this 1001
1495	1495	part against the perpetrator. 1002
1496	1496	(4)(a) A tenant or a tenant's minor child who is a victim 1003
1497	1497	of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, 1004
1498	1498	sexual violence, or stalking and who wishes to remain in the 1005
1499	1499	dwelling unit may make a written request to the landlord 1006
1500	1500	accompanied by any one of the documents listed in paragraph 1007
1501	1501	(3)(b), and the landlor d shall, within 24 hours after receipt of 1008
1502	1502	the request, change the locks of the tenant's dwelling unit and 1009
1503	1503	provide the tenant with a key to the new locks. 1010
1504	1504	(b) If the landlord fails to change the locks within 24 1011
1505	1505	hours, the tenant may change the locks without the landlord's 1012
1506	1506	permission, notwithstanding any contrary provision in the rental 1013
1507	1507	agreement or other applicable rules or regulations imposed by 1014
1508	1508	the landlord, if all of the following conditions have been met: 1015
1509	1509	1. The locks are changed in like manner as if the landlord 1016
1510	1510	had changed the locks, with locks of similar or better quality 1017
1511	1511	than the original locks. 1018
1512	1512	2. The landlord is notified within 24 hours after the 1019
1513	1513	changing of the locks. 1020
1514	1514	3. The landlord is provided a key to the new locks within 1021
1515	1515	a reasonable time. 1022
1516	1516	(c) If the locks are changed under this subsection, the 1023
1517	1517	landlord is not liable to any person who does not have access to 1024
1518	1518	the dwelling unit. 1025
1519	1519
1520	1520	HB 1407 2023
1521	1521
1522	1522
1523	1523
1524	1524	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	(5) A landlord may not refuse to enter into a rental 1026
1532	1532	agreement for a dwelling unit, refuse to negotiate for the 1027
1533	1533	rental of a dwelling unit, make a dwelling unit unavailable, or 1028
1534	1534	retaliate in the rental of a dwelling unit because: 1029
1535	1535	(a) The tenant, prospective tenant, or minor child of the 1030
1536	1536	tenant or prospective tenant is a victim of actual or threatened 1031
1537	1537	domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or 1032
1538	1538	stalking; or 1033
1539	1539	(b) The tenant or prospective tenant has previously 1034
1540	1540	terminated a rental agreement because of an incident involving 1035
1541	1541	actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, sexual 1036
1542	1542	violence, or stalking in which the tenant, prospective tenant, 1037
1543	1543	or minor child of the tenant or prospective tenant was a victim. 1038
1544	1544	1039
1545	1545	However, the landlord may refuse to enter into a rental 1040
1546	1546	agreement, negotiate for the rental of a dwelling unit, or make 1041
1547	1547	a dwelling unit available if the tenant or prospective tenant 1042
1548	1548	fails to comply with the landlord's request for documentation of 1043
1549	1549	an incident of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating 1044
1550	1550	violence, sexual violence, or stalking that occurred before 1045
1551	1551	termination of a prior ren tal agreement. A landlord's request 1046
1552	1552	for documentation is satisfied upon the tenant's or prospective 1047
1553	1553	tenant's provision of any one of the documents listed in 1048
1554	1554	paragraph (3)(b). 1049
1555	1555	(6) All information provided to a landlord under 1050
1556	1556
1557	1557	HB 1407 2023
1558	1558
1559	1559
1560	1560
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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	subsections (3), (4), and (5), including the fact that a tenant, 1051
1569	1569	prospective tenant, or a tenant's or prospective tenant's minor 1052
1570	1570	child is a victim of actual or threatened domestic violence, 1053
1571	1571	dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking, and including the 1054
1572	1572	tenant's forwarding address, is confidential. The landlord may 1055
1573	1573	not enter such information into any shared database or provide 1056
1574	1574	the information to any other person or entity, except to the 1057
1575	1575	extent such disclosure is: 1058
1576	1576	(a) Made to a person specified in paragraph (3)(c) solely 1059
1577	1577	for a legitimate business purpose; 1060
1578	1578	(b) Requested, or consented to, in writing by the tenant 1061
1579	1579	or the tenant's legal guardian; 1062
1580	1580	(c) Required for use in a judicial proceeding; or 1063
1581	1581	(d) Otherwise required by law. 1064
1582	1582	(7) A tenant or prospective tenant, on his or her own 1065
1583	1583	behalf or on behalf of his or her minor child, may file a civil 1066
1584	1584	action against a landlord for a violation of this section. A 1067
1585	1585	landlord who violates subsection (5) or subsection (6) is 1068
1586	1586	civilly liable to the victim for $1,000 for punitive damages, 1069
1587	1587	actual and consequential damages, and court costs, including 1070
1588	1588	reasonable attorney fees, unless the landlord can show that this 1071
1589	1589	was the landlord's first violation and the violation was not 1072
1590	1590	committed in bad faith. Subsequent or repeated violations that 1073
1591	1591	are not contemporaneous with the initial violation are subject 1074
1592	1592	to separate awards of damages. 1075
1593	1593
1594	1594	HB 1407 2023
1595	1595
1596	1596
1597	1597
1598	1598	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	(8) The provisions of this section may not be waived or 1076
1606	1606	modified by a rental agreement. 1077
1607	1607	Section 17. Subsections (4) through (7) of section 1078
1608	1608	125.0103, Florida Statutes are ren umbered as subsections (3) 1079
1609	1609	through (6), respectively, and present subsections (3) and (6) 1080
1610	1610	of that section are amended, to read: 1081
1611	1611	125.0103 Ordinances and rules imposing price controls; 1082
1612	1612	findings required; procedures. — 1083
1613	1613	(3) Any law, ordinance, rule, or othe r measure which has 1084
1614	1614	the effect of imposing controls on rents shall terminate and 1085
1615	1615	expire within 1 year and shall not be extended or renewed except 1086
1616	1616	by the adoption of a new measure meeting all the requirements of 1087
1617	1617	this section. 1088
1618	1618	(5)(6) In any court action br ought to challenge the 1089
1619	1619	validity of rent control imposed pursuant to the provisions of 1090
1620	1620	this section, the evidentiary effect of any findings or 1091
1621	1621	recitations required by subsection (4)(5) shall be limited to 1092
1622	1622	imposing upon any party challenging the validity of such measure 1093
1623	1623	the burden of going forward with the evidence, and the burden of 1094
1624	1624	proof (that is, the risk of nonpersuasion) shall rest upon any 1095
1625	1625	party seeking to have the measure upheld. 1096
1626	1626	Section 18. Subsection (14) is added to section 163.31801, 1097
1627	1627	Florida Statutes, to read: 1098
1628	1628	163.31801 Impact fees; short title; intent; minimum 1099
1629	1629	requirements; audits; challenges. — 1100
1630	1630
1631	1631	HB 1407 2023
1632	1632
1633	1633
1634	1634
1635	1635	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	(14) A local government may adopt by ordinance or a 1101
1643	1643	special district may adopt by resolution an impact fee that is 1102
1644	1644	charged to a developer when resid ents are displaced from their 1103
1645	1645	homes due to gentrification by the developer. The revenue 1104
1646	1646	generated from an impact fee must be used for affordable housing 1105
1647	1647	in the county, municipality, or special district that adopted 1106
1648	1648	such impact fee. 1107
1649	1649	Section 19. Subsecti ons (4) through (7) of section 1108
1650	1650	166.043, Florida Statutes are renumbered as subsections (3) 1109
1651	1651	through (6), respectively, and present subsections (3) and (6) 1110
1652	1652	of that section are amended, to read: 1111
1653	1653	166.043 Ordinances and rules imposing price controls; 1112
1654	1654	findings required; procedures. — 1113
1655	1655	(3) Any law, ordinance, rule, or other measure which has 1114
1656	1656	the effect of imposing controls on rents shall terminate and 1115
1657	1657	expire within 1 year and shall not be extended or renewed except 1116
1658	1658	by the adoption of a new measure meeting all th e requirements of 1117
1659	1659	this section. 1118
1660	1660	(5)(6) In any court action brought to challenge the 1119
1661	1661	validity of rent control imposed pursuant to the provisions of 1120
1662	1662	this section, the evidentiary effect of any findings or 1121
1663	1663	recitations required by subsection (4)(5) shall be limited to 1122
1664	1664	imposing upon any party challenging the validity of such measure 1123
1665	1665	the burden of going forward with the evidence, and the burden of 1124
1666	1666	proof (that is, the risk of nonpersuasion) shall rest upon any 1125
1667	1667
1668	1668	HB 1407 2023
1669	1669
1670	1670
1671	1671
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1675	1675	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
1676	1676
1677	1677
1678	1678
1679	1679	party seeking to have the measure upheld. 1126
1680	1680	Section 20. Section 201.025, Florida Statutes, is created 1127
1681	1681	to read: 1128
1682	1682	201.025 Tax on deeds relating to residential property 1129
1683	1683	purchased by private equity firms. — 1130
1684	1684	(1) When a deed, an instrument, or other writing for a 1131
1685	1685	residential single-family dwelling, a manufact ured home, or an 1132
1686	1686	apartment complex is granted, assigned, transferred, or 1133
1687	1687	otherwise conveyed to a purchaser who is a private equity firm 1134
1688	1688	or corporation that has at least $20 million in assets, the tax 1135
1689	1689	is $100 on each $100 of the consideration. 1136
1690	1690	(2) All documentary stamp tax revenues generated under 1137
1691	1691	this section must be deposited into the Florida Affordable 1138
1692	1692	Housing Trust Fund. 1139
1693	1693	(3) Taxes imposed by this section do not apply to an 1140
1694	1694	assignment, a deed, a transfer, a conveyance, or other 1141
1695	1695	disposition, which aris es out of a transfer of real property if 1142
1696	1696	the purchaser is: 1143
1697	1697	(a) A nonprofit organization as defined in s. 201.02(6). 1144
1698	1698	(b) A government entity as defined in s. 768.295(2). 1145
1699	1699	(c) A person purchasing such real property pursuant to a 1146
1700	1700	government program to pr ovide housing to low -income persons as 1147
1701	1701	defined in s. 420.0004(11). 1148
1702	1702	Section 21. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 1149