HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 1 of 70
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
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to housing; providing a short title; 2
creating s. 20.71, F.S.; creating the Department of 3
Housing and Tenant Rights; requiring the secretary, 4
the head of the department, to be appointed by the 5
Governor and confirmed by the Senate; providing duties 6
of the secretary; providing the purpose of the 7
department; requiring a report on the implementation 8
of an empty homes tax to be provided to the Governor 9
and Legislature by a specified date; providing 10
government reorganization for certain chapters of law; 11
amending s. 83.43, F.S.; revising the definitions of 12
the terms "rent" and "tenant"; creating s. 83.455, 13
F.S.; providing requirements for rental agreements; 14
requiring rental agreements to include certain 15
information; amending s. 83.46, F.S.; providing 16
requirements relating to a written notice of a planned 17
rent increase provided to tenants; amending s. 83.47, 18
F.S.; providing that certain provisions in a rental 19
agreement are void and unenforceable; amending s. 20
83.49, F.S.; providing requirements relating to 21
security deposits; removing the option for a landlord 22
to deposit certain money into a non -interest-bearing 23
account; revising written notice requirements to 24
tenants; providing for damages if a landlord fails to 25
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 2 of 70
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
meet certain requirements; creating s. 83. 495, F.S.; 26
providing a short title; prohibiting landlords from 27
requiring prospective tenants to pay certain fees; 28
providing construction; amending s. 83.51, F.S.; 29
requiring a landlord to inspect a dwelling unit at a 30
specified time to ensure compliance with applicable 31
codes; amending s. 83.54, F.S.; requiring certain 32
records to be removed from a tenant's credit report 33
under certain circumstances; amending s. 83.56, F.S.; 34
revising and specifying grounds for termination of a 35
rental agreement; requiring landlor ds to provide 36
certain tenants a specified amount of time to vacate 37
the premises before bringing a specified action; 38
amending s. 83.60, F.S.; removing a requirement that 39
certain money be paid into the registry of the court; 40
creating s. 83.626, F.S.; authori zing tenants, mobile 41
home owners, mobile home tenants, and mobile home 42
occupants who are defendants in certain eviction 43
proceedings to file a motion with the court to have 44
the records of such proceedings sealed and to have 45
their names substituted on the pr ogress docket under 46
certain conditions; requiring the court to grant such 47
motions without a hearing if certain requirements are 48
met; authorizing that such relief be granted only 49
once; requiring tenants, mobile home owners, mobile 50
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 3 of 70
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
home tenants, or mobile ho me occupants to submit a 51
specified sworn statement; requiring the court to 52
substitute a defendant's name on the progress docket 53
under certain circumstances; prohibiting certain 54
defendants from being eligible for such relief; 55
providing for retroactive appli cability; amending s. 56
83.63, F.S.; conforming a cross -reference; amending s. 57
83.67, F.S.; prohibiting a landlord from engaging in 58
certain conduct; providing definitions; creating s. 59
83.675, F.S.; providing definitions; requiring a 60
landlord to give tenants the opportunity to purchase 61
the dwelling unit or premises under certain 62
circumstances; providing requirements for an offer of 63
sale; authorizing a tenant to challenge an offer of 64
sale; creating s. 83.676, F.S.; providing definitions; 65
prohibiting a landlord from evicting a tenant or 66
terminating a rental agreement because the tenant or 67
the tenant's minor child is a victim of actual or 68
threatened domestic violence, dating violence, sexual 69
violence, or stalking; specifying that a rental 70
agreement may not include certain provisions; 71
authorizing a victim of such actual or threatened 72
violence or stalking to terminate a rental agreement 73
under certain circumstances; requiring certain 74
documentation and written notice to be provided to the 75
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 4 of 70
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
landlord; providing for liabil ity for unpaid rent for 76
the tenant and the perpetrator, if applicable; 77
specifying that a tenant does not forfeit certain 78
money paid to the landlord for terminating the rental 79
agreement under certain circumstances; requiring a 80
landlord to change the locks o f the dwelling unit 81
within a specified time period under certain 82
circumstances; authorizing the tenant to change the 83
locks under certain circumstances; prohibiting certain 84
actions by a landlord under certain circumstances; 85
authorizing the filing of a civil action and an award 86
of damages, fees, and costs under certain 87
circumstances; prohibiting the waiver or modification 88
of certain provisions; creating 83.685, F.S.; 89
prohibiting the purchase of single -family homes for a 90
specified purpose in certain circumstan ces; 91
authorizing civil investigations and actions; 92
authorizing the award of certain relief; requiring 93
joinder of certain parties in certain circumstances 94
for specified purposes; providing for joint and 95
several liability; providing construction; defining 96
the terms "affiliate" and "person"; amending s. 97
163.31801, F.S.; authorizing local governments and 98
special districts to adopt a specified impact fee; 99
requiring that the revenue generated from such impact 100
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 5 of 70
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
fee be used for a specified purpose; creating s. 101
166.0452, F.S.; providing definitions; authorizing 102
municipalities to create community land bank programs 103
for a certain purpose; requiring certain 104
municipalities to develop and annually adopt a 105
community land bank plan; providing requirements for 106
such plan; requiring a public hearing on the proposed 107
plan before its adoption; requiring notice to certain 108
entities; requiring the proposed plan to be made 109
public within a certain timeframe before the public 110
hearing; providing requirements for the sale of 111
certain property to land banks; providing that such 112
sale is for a public purpose; prohibiting certain 113
persons from challenging the market value of property 114
under certain circumstances; requiring written notice 115
of a sale of such property to be provided to certain 116
persons in a certain manner within a specified 117
timeframe; authorizing the owner of certain property 118
to contest the sale of such property and requiring 119
such property to be sold in a different manner; 120
specifying that the owner of certain property is not 121
entitled to proceeds from the sale and is not liable 122
for certain deficiencies; authorizing land banks to 123
buy certain property for less than market value under 124
certain circumstances; conveying the right, title, and 125
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 6 of 70
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
interest in certain property to land banks; requiring 126
land banks to offer qualified organizations a right of 127
first refusal to purchase certain property; providing 128
requirements for the right of first refusal; providing 129
conditions for the subsequent resale of property 130
acquired by land banks; requiring certain deed 131
restrictions on certain property; providing 132
requirements for such deed restrictions; authorizing 133
the modification of or addition to deed restrictions; 134
requiring land banks to maintain certain records; 135
requiring land banks to file annual audited financ ial 136
statements within a certain timeframe; requiring land 137
banks to submit an annual performance report to a 138
municipality by a certain date; providing requirements 139
for such report; requiring copies of such report to be 140
provided to certain entities and made available for 141
public review; providing applicability; amending s. 142
196.061, F.S.; providing that rental of certain 143
homestead property does not constitute abandonment in 144
specified circumstances; creating s. 201.025, F.S.; 145
providing the amount of documentary stamp tax imposed 146
on purchases of certain property by certain entities; 147
requiring revenue generated by such tax to be 148
deposited into the Florida Affordable Housing Trust 149
Fund; providing exceptions; creating s. 220.1851, 150
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 7 of 70
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
F.S.; providing definitions; authori zing a tax credit 151
for certain projects; providing the maximum value of 152
such credit; authorizing the Florida Housing Finance 153
Corporation to allocate the tax credit among certain 154
projects; authorizing the tax credit to be transferred 155
by the recipient; requir ing the Department of Revenue 156
to adopt rules; creating s. 420.50931, F.S.; creating 157
the Retail-to-residence Tax Credit Program for a 158
certain purpose; requiring the corporation to 159
determine which projects are eligible for the tax 160
credit; requiring the corpo ration to establish and 161
adopt certain procedures and to prepare a specified 162
annual plan; requiring such plan to be approved by the 163
Governor; authorizing the corporation to exercise 164
certain powers; requiring the board of directors of 165
the corporation to admi nister certain procedures and 166
determine allocations on behalf of the corporation; 167
providing requirements for certain procedures; 168
requiring taxpayers to submit an application with 169
certain information to the corporation; authorizing 170
the corporation to reques t additional information; 171
providing requirements for the approval of an 172
application for a project; creating s. 420.5098, F.S.; 173
creating the Affordable Housing Construction Loan 174
Program for a certain purpose; providing the 175
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 8 of 70
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
corporation with certain powers an d responsibilities 176
relating to the program; providing requirements for 177
the program; providing rulemaking authority; providing 178
an effective date. 179
180
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 181
182
Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Ke ep Floridians 183
Housed Act." 184
Section 2. Section 20.71, Florida Statutes, is created to 185
read: 186
20.71 Department of Housing and Tenant Rights. — 187
(1) There is created the Department of Housing and Tenant 188
Rights. 189
(2) The head of the department is the sec retary, who shall 190
be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the 191
Senate. The secretary shall serve at the pleasure of and report 192
to the Governor. The secretary may appoint deputy and assistant 193
secretaries as necessary to aid the secretary in fulfilling his 194
or her statutory obligations. The secretary may create offices 195
or divisions within the department to promote efficient and 196
effective operation of the department. 197
(3) The purpose of the department is to assist the 198
Governor in working with t he Legislature, state agencies, and 199
other interested entities to formulate and implement coherent 200
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 9 of 70
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
and consistent policies and strategies designed to combat 201
affordable housing and homelessness issues in the state, assist 202
with housing and urban development, and perpetuate amicable 203
landlord-tenant relationships. 204
(4) The department shall, by January 1, 2026, conduct 205
research and submit a report to the Governor, the President of 206
the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on a 207
cost-benefit analysis of implementing an empty homes tax. 208
(5) The department shall take over the role of state 209
government from other departments that currently administer 210
chapter 83 and chapters 419 -423. 211
Section 3. Subsections (12) and (17) of section 83.43, 212
Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 213
83.43 Definitions.—As used in this part, the following 214
words and terms shall have the following meanings unless some 215
other meaning is plainly indicated: 216
(12) "Rent" means the periodic payments due the landlord 217
from the tenant for occupancy under a rental agreement and any 218
other payments due the landlord from the tenant as may be 219
designated as rent in a written rental agreement . The term does 220
not include deposit money, security deposits, late fees, early 221
termination fees, liquidated damages, or any other charge or 222
fee, even if the charge or fee is designated as rent in a 223
written rental agreement. 224
(17) "Tenant" means any person entitled to occupy a 225
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 10 of 70
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
dwelling unit or property held out for the use of tenants 226
generally under a rental agreement. 227
Section 4. Section 83.455, Florida Statutes, is created to 228
read: 229
83.455 Rental agreements. — 230
(1) Immediately after entering into, extending, or 231
renewing a rental agreement, the tenant must be provided a copy 232
of the rental agreement. The rental agreement must be written in 233
plain language and, at the tenant's request, translated into the 234
preferred language of the tenant. 235
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all rental 236
agreements entered into, extended, or renewed on or after July 237
1, 2025, must include the following provisions: 238
(a) Before a private sale or transfer of title of the 239
dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is 240
located, the landlord must provide the tenant with the right of 241
first refusal to purchase the dwelling unit or premises as 242
provided under s. 83.675. 243
(b) If a landlord chooses not to extend or renew a rental 244
agreement, he or she must provide the tenant 60 days' notice of 245
his or her decision and provide a written explanation for such 246
decision. 247
(c) If a rental agreement provision authorizes termination 248
of the rental agreement by the landlord without cause, such 249
provision must require the landlord to provide the tenant just 250
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 11 of 70
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
compensation and comprehensive relocation assistance. 251
(d) A landlord may not terminate a tenancy for cause 252
during a state of emergency declared by the Governor under 253
chapter 252. 254
(e) During a state of emergency declared by the Governor 255
under chapter 252, a tenant may install wind -resistant 256
improvements, as described in s. 163.08(4)(a), to the dwelling 257
unit at the tenant's expense. 258
(f) A landlord may not terminate a tenancy because a 259
tenant establishes, attempts to establish, or participates in a 260
tenant organization. 261
Section 5. Subsection (4) is added t o section 83.46, 262
Florida Statutes, to read: 263
83.46 Rent; duration of tenancies. — 264
(4) A landlord must provide to a tenant a written notice, 265
by certified mail or hand delivery, of a planned rent increase 266
at least 60 days before the rental agreement renewa l period. If 267
the rent increase is more than 5 percent, the landlord must 268
provide notice, by certified mail or hand delivery, at least 3 269
months before the rental agreement renewal period. If the rent 270
increase is more than 5 percent, the notice must also con tain a 271
statement that the tenant may elect to participate in nonbinding 272
mediation, at the expense of the tenant, by providing written 273
notice to the landlord, by certified mail or hand delivery, 274
within 14 days after receipt of the notice of the rent increas e. 275
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 12 of 70
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
For a tenancy without a specific duration, the landlord must 276
provide written notice, by certified mail or hand delivery, of a 277
planned rent increase within the timeframes provided in s. 278
83.57. 279
Section 6. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (1) of 280
section 83.47, Florida Statutes, to read: 281
83.47 Prohibited provisions in rental agreements. — 282
(1) A provision in a rental agreement is void and 283
unenforceable to the extent that it: 284
(c) Purports that early termination of a rental agreement 285
because of an incident involving actual or threatened domestic 286
violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking, in 287
which the tenant or the tenant's minor child is a victim and not 288
the perpetrator, is a breach of the rental agreement. 289
Section 7. Subsections ( 1) through (9) of section 83.49, 290
Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (2) through 291
(10), respectively, present subsections (1) through (5), (7), 292
and (9) are amended, and a new subsection (1) is added to that 293
section, to read: 294
83.49 Deposit money or advance rent; duty of landlord and 295
tenant.— 296
(1)(a) A landlord may not charge a tenant a security 297
deposit that is more than 1 month's rent. 298
(b) The landlord must allow the tenant, at his or her 299
discretion, to pay the total amount of the security de posit in 300
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 13 of 70
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
12 equal payments to be paid at the same time and in the same 301
manner as the tenant's rent. If the duration of the rental 302
agreement is less than 1 year, the total amount of the deposit 303
must be paid in equal monthly payments based on the duration of 304
the tenancy and be paid at the same time and in the same manner 305
as the tenant's rent. 306
(c) If a tenant pays his or her security deposit according 307
to paragraph (b), when the rental agreement is terminated or the 308
tenant vacates or abandons the premises bef ore the expiration of 309
the term specified in the rental agreement, the tenant is 310
entitled to a refund equivalent to the amount of the security 311
deposit that he or she already paid, minus any deductions 312
properly claimed by the landlord under subsection (4) fo r 313
damages. 314
(2)(1) Whenever money is deposited or advanced by a tenant 315
on a rental agreement as security for performance of the rental 316
agreement or as advance rent for other than the next immediate 317
rental period, the landlord or the landlord's agent shall 318
either: 319
(a) Hold the total amount of such money in a separate non -320
interest-bearing account in a Florida financial institution for 321
the benefit of the tenant or tenants. The landlord shall not 322
commingle such moneys with any other funds of the landlord or 323
hypothecate, pledge, or in any other way make use of such moneys 324
until such moneys are actually due the landlord; 325
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 14 of 70
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
(a)(b) Hold the total amount of such money in a separate 326
interest-bearing account in a Florida financial institution for 327
the benefit of the tenant or tenants, in which case the tenant 328
shall receive and collect interest in an amount of at least 75 329
percent of the annualized average interest rate payable on such 330
account or interest at the rate of 5 percent per year, simple 331
interest, whichever the landlord elects. The landlord shall not 332
commingle such moneys with any other funds of the landlord or 333
hypothecate, pledge, or in any other way make use of such moneys 334
until such moneys are actually due the landlord; or 335
(b)(c) Post a surety bond, executed by the landlord as 336
principal and a surety company authorized and licensed to do 337
business in the state as surety, with the clerk of the circuit 338
court in the county in which the dwelling unit is located in the 339
total amount of the security deposits and advance rent he or she 340
holds on behalf of the tenants or $50,000, whichever is less. 341
The bond shall be conditioned upon the faithful compliance of 342
the landlord with the provisions of this section and shall run 343
to the Governor for the benefit of any tenant injured by the 344
landlord's violation of the provisions of this section. In 345
addition to posting the surety bond, the landlord shall pay to 346
the tenant interest at the rate of 5 percent per year, simple 347
interest. A landlord, or the landlord's agent, engaged in the 348
renting of dwelling units in five or more counties, who holds 349
deposit moneys or advance rent and who is otherwise subject to 350
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 15 of 70
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
the provisions of this section, may, in lieu of posting a surety 351
bond in each county, elect to post a surety bond in the form and 352
manner provided in this paragraph with the office of the 353
Secretary of State. The bond shall be in the total amount of the 354
security deposit or advance rent held on behalf of tenants or in 355
the amount of $250,000, whichever is less. The bond shall be 356
conditioned upon the faith ful compliance of the landlord with 357
the provisions of this section and shall run to the Governor for 358
the benefit of any tenant injured by the landlord's violation of 359
this section. In addition to posting a surety bond, the landlord 360
shall pay to the tenant i nterest on the security deposit or 361
advance rent held on behalf of that tenant at the rate of 5 362
percent per year simple interest. 363
(3)(2) The landlord shall, in the rental lease agreement 364
or within 30 days after receipt of advance rent or a security 365
deposit, give written notice to the tenant which includes 366
disclosure of the advance rent or security deposit. Subsequent 367
to providing such written notice, if the landlord changes the 368
manner or location in which he or she is holding the advance 369
rent or security deposit, he or she must notify the tenant 370
within 30 days after the change as provided in paragraphs (a) -371
(d). The landlord is not required to give new or additional 372
notice solely because the depository has merged with another 373
financial institution, changed i ts name, or transferred 374
ownership to a different financial institution. This subsection 375
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 16 of 70
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
does not apply to any landlord who rents fewer than five 376
individual dwelling units. Failure to give this notice is not a 377
defense to the payment of rent when due. The wr itten notice 378
must: 379
(a) Be given in person or by mail to the tenant. 380
(b) State the name and address of the depository where the 381
advance rent or security deposit is being held or state that the 382
landlord has posted a surety bond as provided by law. 383
(c) State that whether the tenant is entitled to interest 384
on the deposit and the amount of the interest . 385
(d) Contain the following disclosure: 386
387
YOUR RENTAL AGREEMENT LEASE REQUIRES PAYMENT OF CERTAIN 388
DEPOSITS. THE LANDLORD MAY TRANSFER ADVANCE RENTS TO THE 389
LANDLORD'S ACCOUNT AS THEY ARE DUE AND WITHOUT NOTICE. WHEN YOU 390
MOVE OUT, YOU MUST GIVE THE LANDLORD YOUR NEW ADDRESS SO THAT 391
THE LANDLORD CAN SEND YOU NOTICES REGARDING YOUR DEPOSIT. THE 392
LANDLORD MUST MAIL YOU NOTICE, WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER YOU MOVE 393
OUT, OF THE LANDLORD'S INTENT TO IMPOSE A CLAIM AGAINST THE 394
DEPOSIT. IF YOU DO NOT REPLY TO THE LANDLORD STATING YOUR 395
OBJECTION TO THE CLAIM WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE 396
LANDLORD'S NOTICE, THE LANDLORD WILL COLLECT THE CLAIM AND MUST 397
MAIL YOU THE REMAINING DEPOSIT, IF ANY. 398
399
IF THE LANDLORD FAILS TO TIMELY MAIL YOU NOTICE, THE LANDLORD 400
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 17 of 70
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
MUST RETURN THE DEPOSIT BUT MAY LATER FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU 401
FOR DAMAGES. IF YOU FAIL TO TIMELY OBJECT TO A CLAIM, THE 402
LANDLORD MAY COLLECT FROM THE DEPOSIT, BUT YOU MAY LATER FILE A 403
LAWSUIT CLAIMING A REFUND. 404
405
YOU SHOULD ATTEMPT TO INFORMALLY RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BEFORE 406
FILING A LAWSUIT. GENERALLY, THE PARTY IN WHOSE FAVOR A JUDGMENT 407
IS RENDERED WILL BE AWARDED COSTS AND ATTORNEY FEES PAYABLE BY 408
THE LOSING PARTY. 409
410
THIS DISCLOSURE IS BASIC. PLEASE REFER TO PART II OF CHAPTER 83, 411
FLORIDA STATUTES, TO DETERMINE YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND 412
OBLIGATIONS. 413
414
(4)(3) The landlord or the landlord's agent m ay disburse 415
advance rents from the deposit account to the landlord's benefit 416
when the advance rental period commences and without notice to 417
the tenant. For all other deposits: 418
(a) Upon the vacating of the premises for termination of 419
the rental agreement lease, if the landlord does not intend to 420
impose a claim on the security deposit, the landlord must shall 421
have 15 days to return the security deposit together with 422
interest within 30 days after the tenant vacates the premises. 423
if otherwise required, or The landlord has shall have 30 days 424
after the tenant vacates the premises to give the tenant written 425
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 18 of 70
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
notice by certified mail to the tenant's last known mailing 426
address of his or her intention to impose a claim on the deposit 427
and the reason for imposing the c laim. The notice must shall 428
contain a statement in substantially the following form: 429
This is a notice of my intention to impose a claim for 430
damages in the amount of .... upon your security deposit, due to 431
..... It is sent to you as required by s. 83.49(4) s. 83.49(3), 432
Florida Statutes. You are hereby notified that you must object 433
in writing to this deduction from your security deposit within 434
15 days after from the time you receive this notice or I will be 435
authorized to deduct my claim from your security de posit. Your 436
objection must be sent to ...(landlord's address).... 437
If the landlord fails to give the required notice within the 30 -438
day period, he or she forfeits the right to impose a claim upon 439
the security deposit and may not seek a setoff against the 440
deposit but may file an action for damages after return of the 441
deposit. 442
(b) Unless the tenant objects to the imposition of the 443
landlord's claim or the amount thereof within 15 days after 444
receipt of the landlord's notice of intention to impose a claim, 445
the landlord may then deduct the amount of his or her claim and 446
must shall remit the balance of the deposit and any interest to 447
the tenant within 30 days after the date of the notice of 448
intention to impose a claim for damages. The failure of the 449
tenant to make a timely objection does not waive any rights of 450
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 19 of 70
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
the tenant to seek damages in a separate action. 451
(c) If either party institutes an action in a court of 452
competent jurisdiction to adjudicate the party's right to the 453
security deposit, the prevailing party i s entitled to receive 454
his or her court costs plus a reasonable fee for his or her 455
attorney. If a court finds that the landlord failed to meet the 456
requirements of this section, the court must award the tenant 457
damages equal to three times the amount of the t enant's security 458
deposit. The court shall advance the cause on the calendar. 459
(d) Compliance with this section by an individual or 460
business entity authorized to conduct business in this state, 461
including Florida-licensed real estate brokers and sales 462
associates, constitutes compliance with all other relevant 463
Florida Statutes pertaining to security deposits held pursuant 464
to a rental agreement or other landlord -tenant relationship. 465
Enforcement personnel shall look solely to this section to 466
determine compliance. This section prevails over any conflicting 467
provisions in chapter 475 and in other sections of the Florida 468
Statutes, and operates shall operate to permit licensed real 469
estate brokers to disburse security deposits and deposit money 470
without having to compl y with the notice and settlement 471
procedures contained in s. 475.25(1)(d). 472
(5)(4) The provisions of This section does do not apply to 473
transient rentals by hotels or motels as defined in chapter 509 ; 474
or nor do they apply in those instances in which the amount of 475
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 20 of 70
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
rent or deposit, or both, is regulated by law or by rules or 476
regulations of a public body, including public housing 477
authorities and federally administered or regulated housing 478
programs including s. 202, s. 221(d)( 3) and (4), s. 236, or s. 8 479
of the National Housing Act, as amended, other than for rent 480
stabilization. With the exception of subsections (4), (6), and 481
(7) (3), (5), and (6), this section is not applicable to housing 482
authorities or public housing agencies created pursuant to 483
chapter 421 or other statutes. 484
(6)(5) Except when otherwise provided by the terms of a 485
written rental agreement lease, any tenant who vacates or 486
abandons the premises before prior to the expiration of the term 487
specified in the written rental agreement lease, or any tenant 488
who vacates or abandons premises which are the subject of a 489
tenancy from week to week, month to month, quarter to quarter, 490
or year to year, must shall give at least 7 days' written 491
notice, which notice must include th e address where the tenant 492
may be reached, by certified mail or personal delivery to the 493
landlord before prior to vacating or abandoning the premises 494
which notice shall include the address where the tenant may be 495
reached. Failure to give such notice relieves shall relieve the 496
landlord of the notice requirement of paragraph (4)(a) (3)(a) 497
but does shall not waive any right the tenant may have to the 498
security deposit or any part of it. 499
(8)(7) Upon the sale or transfer of title of the rental 500
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 21 of 70
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
property from one owner to another, or upon a change in the 501
designated rental agent, any and all security deposits or 502
advance rents being held for the benefit of the tenants must 503
shall be transferred to the new owner or agent, together with 504
any earned interest and with an accurate accounting showing the 505
amounts to be credited to each tenant account. Upon the transfer 506
of such funds and records to the new owner or agent, and upon 507
transmittal of a written receipt therefor, the transferor is 508
free from the obligation imposed in subsection (2) (1) to hold 509
such moneys on behalf of the tenant. There is a rebuttable 510
presumption that any new owner or agent received the security 511
deposit from the previous owner or agent; however, this 512
presumption is limited to 1 month's rent. This subse ction does 513
not excuse the landlord or agent for a violation of other 514
provisions of this section while in possession of such deposits. 515
(10)(9) In those cases in which interest is required to be 516
paid to the tenant, The landlord shall pay directly to the 517
tenant, or credit against the current month's rent, the interest 518
due to the tenant at least once annually. However, no interest 519
may not be paid to shall be due a tenant who wrongfully 520
terminates his or her tenancy before prior to the end of the 521
rental term. 522
Section 8. Section 83.495, Florida Statutes, is created to 523
read: 524
83.495 Prohibited fees. — 525
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 22 of 70
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
(1) This section may be cited as the "End Junk Fees for 526
Renters Act." 527
(2) A landlord or a landlord's agent may not require or 528
demand a prospective tenant to pay any fee in connection with 529
the submission of an application for rental of a dwelling unit. 530
Such fees include, but are not limited to, application fees, 531
tenant screening fees, renewal fees, service fees, amenity fees, 532
benefits fees, and any other fee t hat cannot be avoided by the 533
prospective tenant. Such fees do not include security deposits 534
or fees in lieu of security deposits, rent, or early termination 535
fees. 536
(3) This section does not prohibit a landlord or 537
landlord's agent from requiring a backgrou nd screening or credit 538
report. However, if a prospective tenant provides a required 539
background screening or credit report issued within 90 days 540
after the application, no fee for such background screening or 541
credit report may be charged by the landlord or l andlord's 542
agent. If a prospective tenant does not provide a required 543
background screening or credit report issued within 90 days 544
after the application, the landlord or the landlord's agent may 545
charge the prospective tenant a fee for the actual cost of 546
obtaining the background screening or credit report. Any 547
prospective tenant who is charged a fee under this subsection 548
for a background screening or credit report must be given a 549
written or electronic copy of the background screening or credit 550
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 23 of 70
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
report. 551
Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 552
83.51, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 553
83.51 Landlord's obligation to maintain premises. — 554
(1) The landlord at all times during the tenancy shall: 555
(a) Comply with the requirements of applicable building, 556
housing, and health codes . The landlord, at commencement of the 557
tenancy, must inspect the dwelling unit to ensure compliance 558
with all applicable codes ; or 559
560
The landlord is not required to maintain a mobile home or other 561
structure owned by the ten ant. The landlord's obligations under 562
this subsection may be altered or modified in writing with 563
respect to a single-family home or duplex. 564
Section 10. Section 83.54, Florida Statutes, is amended to 565
read: 566
83.54 Enforcement of rights and duties; civil action; 567
criminal offenses.—Any right or duty declared in this part is 568
enforceable by civil action. A right or duty enforced by civil 569
action under this section does not preclude prosecution for a 570
criminal offense related to the rental agreement or rented 571
dwelling unit or premises lease or leased property . In an action 572
brought by a tenant for wrongful termination of a rental 573
agreement, if the court finds in favor of the tenant, any 574
eviction complaint filed by the landlord must be dismissed and 575
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 24 of 70
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
the record of such filing removed from the tenant's credit 576
report. 577
Section 11. Subsections (5) and (6) of section 83.56, 578
Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (6) and (7), 579
respectively, subsections (2), (3), and (4), paragraph (b) of 580
present subsection (5) , and present subsection (6) are amended, 581
and new subsections (5) and (8) are added to that section, to 582
read: 583
83.56 Termination of rental agreement. — 584
(2)(a) A landlord must have good cause to terminate a 585
rental agreement. The following reasons constitu te good cause to 586
terminate a rental agreement: 587
1. The intentional destruction, damage, or misuse of the 588
landlord's or other tenants' property. 589
2. A tenant's disorderly conduct or continued unreasonable 590
disturbance. 591
3. Failure of the tenant to comply with s. 83.52. 592
4. A violation or breach of the landlord's reasonable 593
rules and regulations. 594
5. A violation or breach of covenants or agreements 595
contained in the rental agreement. 596
6. Use of the dwelling unit or premises for illegal 597
purposes or acts that the tenant has been criminally charged 598
with, including, but not limited to, the manufacture, sale, or 599
use of illegal drugs, theft of property, or assault or threats 600
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 25 of 70
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
on the landlord or his or her relatives, as defined in s. 601
494.001, or employees. 602
7. The dwelling unit or premises are removed from the 603
rental market because this state, any political subdivision as 604
defined in s. 1.01(8), or any other entity exercises its power 605
of eminent domain; the landlord seeks in good faith to 606
permanently remove the pro perty from the rental market; or the 607
landlord is converting the dwelling unit or premises from the 608
rental market to a condominium, cooperative, or fee simple 609
ownership. 610
8. The dwelling unit or premises are being used as an 611
incident of employment and such employment is terminated. 612
9. The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession 613
of the dwelling unit or premises for his or her own use and 614
occupancy as a principal residence, or for the use and occupancy 615
as a principal residence by a relative, as d efined in s. 616
494.001, of the landlord. 617
(b) If any of the violations in subparagraphs (a)1. -6. 618
exist the tenant materially fails to comply with s. 83.52 or 619
material provisions of the rental agreement, other than a 620
failure to pay rent, or reasonable rules or regulations, the 621
landlord may: 622
1.(a) If the violation such noncompliance is of a nature 623
that the tenant should not be given an opportunity to cure it or 624
if the violation noncompliance constitutes a subsequent or 625
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 26 of 70
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
continuing violation noncompliance within 12 months after of a 626
written warning by the landlord of a similar violation, deliver 627
a written notice to the tenant specifying the violation 628
noncompliance and the landlord's intent to terminate the rental 629
agreement by reason thereof. Examples of noncompliance which are 630
of a nature that the tenant should not be given an opportunity 631
to cure include, but are not limited to, destruction, damage, or 632
misuse of the landlord's or other tenants' property by 633
intentional act or a subsequent or continued unreasonabl e 634
disturbance. In such event, the landlord may terminate the 635
rental agreement, and the tenant has shall have 7 days after 636
from the date that the notice is delivered to vacate the 637
premises. The notice must shall be in substantially the 638
following form: 639
640
You are advised that your rental agreement lease is 641
terminated effective immediately. You shall have 7 days after 642
from the delivery of this letter to vacate the premises. This 643
action is taken because ...(cite the violation 644
noncompliance).... 645
646
2.(b) If the violation such noncompliance is of a nature 647
that the tenant should be given an opportunity to cure it, 648
deliver a written notice to the tenant specifying the violation 649
noncompliance, including a notice that, if the violation 650
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 27 of 70
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
noncompliance is not corrected within 7 days after from the date 651
that the written notice is delivered, the landlord will shall 652
terminate the rental agreement by reason thereof. Examples of 653
such noncompliance include, but are not limited to, activities 654
in contravention of the lease or thi s part such as having or 655
permitting unauthorized pets, guests, or vehicles; parking in an 656
unauthorized manner or permitting such parking; or failing to 657
keep the premises clean and sanitary. If such violation 658
noncompliance recurs within 12 months after receipt of such 659
notice, an eviction action may commence without delivering a 660
subsequent notice pursuant to subparagraph 1. paragraph (a) or 661
this subparagraph paragraph. The notice must shall be in 662
substantially the following form: 663
664
You are hereby notified tha t ...(cite the violation 665
noncompliance).... Demand is hereby made that you remedy the 666
violation noncompliance within 7 days after of receipt of this 667
notice or your rental agreement will be lease shall be deemed 668
terminated and you must shall vacate the premises upon such 669
termination. If this same conduct or conduct of a similar nature 670
is repeated within 12 months, your tenancy is subject to 671
termination without further warning and without your being given 672
an opportunity to cure the violation noncompliance. 673
674
(c) If any other reason provided in paragraph (a) exists, 675
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 28 of 70
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
the landlord may deliver a written notice to the tenant of the 676
landlord's intent to terminate the rental agreement. The written 677
notice must specify the reason for the termination. In such 678
event, the tenant has 7 days after the date that the notice is 679
delivered to vacate the premises. 680
(3) If the tenant fails to pay rent when due and the 681
default continues for 3 days, excluding Saturday, Sunday, and 682
legal holidays, after delivery of written demand by the landlord 683
for payment of the rent or possession of the premises, or if the 684
tenant habitually pays late or fails to pay the full amount of 685
rent after being given notice of a rent increase as required in 686
s. 83.46(4), the landlord may terminate the rental agreement. 687
Habitual late payments means more than one late payment 688
following the landlord's first written demand for payment. Legal 689
holidays for the purpose of this section shall be court -observed 690
holidays only. The 3 -day notice shall contain a statement in 691
substantially the following form: 692
693
You are hereby notified that you are indebted to me in the 694
sum of .... dollars for the rent and use of the premises 695
...(address of leased premises, including county)..., Florida, 696
now occupied by you and that I demand payment of the rent or 697
possession of the premises within 3 days (excluding Saturday, 698
Sunday, and legal holidays) after from the date of delivery of 699
this notice, to wit: on or before the .... day of ...., 700
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 29 of 70
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
...(year).... 701
...(landlord's name, address and phone number)... 702
703
(4) The delivery of the written notices required by 704
subsections (1), (2), and (3), and (8) must shall be by mailing 705
or delivery of a true copy thereof or, if the tenant is absent 706
from the premises, by leaving a copy thereof at the residence. 707
The notice requirements of subsections (1), (2), and (3), and 708
(8) may not be waived in the rental agreement lease. 709
(5) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, if the 710
landlord knows or reasonably should know that the tenant is 711
pregnant or there are children under the age of 18 years living 712
in the dwelling unit, the landlord must provide the tenant at 713
least 3 months after delivery of a written notice under 714
subsection (2) or subsection (3) to vacate the premises before 715
bringing an action for possession of the dwelling unit under s. 716
83.59. 717
(6)(5) 718
(b) Any tenant who wishes to defend against an action by 719
the landlord for possession of the unit for noncompliance of the 720
rental agreement or of relevant statutes must comply with s. 721
83.60(2). The court may not set a date for mediation or trial 722
unless the provisions of s. 83.60(2) have been met , but must 723
enter a default judgment for removal of the tenant with a writ 724
of possession to issue immediately if the tenant fails to comply 725
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 30 of 70
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
with s. 83.60(2). 726
(7)(6) If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord 727
must shall comply with s. 83.49(4) s. 83.49(3). 728
(8)(a) If the landlord seeks in good faith to undertake 729
substantial repairs to the dwelling unit or premises that cannot 730
be completed while the dwelling unit is occupied, and that are 731
necessary to bring the dwelling unit or premises into compliance 732
with applicable codes and laws or under an outstanding notice of 733
code violations, the landlord may deliver a written notice to 734
the tenant of the landlord's intent to terminate the rental 735
agreement. In such event, the tenant has 7 days after the date 736
that the notice is delivered to vacate the premises. 737
(b) A notice terminating a rental agreement under this 738
subsection must include the following information: 739
1. A statement in substantially the following form: "When 740
the needed repairs are completed on your dwelling unit or the 741
premises, the landlord must offer you the opportunity to return 742
to your dwelling unit with a rental agreement of substantially 743
the same terms and at the same rent, subject to the landlord's 744
right to obtain a rent increase for capital improvements." 745
2. If a landlord owns other residential dwelling units and 746
any such unit is available, a statement informing the tenant of 747
the existence of the available unit and an offer to enter into a 748
temporary rental agreement for the available unit or an offer to 749
enter into a new rental agreement for the available unit. The 750
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 31 of 70
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
landlord must offer the replacement dwelling unit to the tenant 751
at a rent based on the rent that the tenant is currently paying, 752
allowing for adjustments based on the condition, size, and other 753
amenities of the replacement unit. 754
3. An estimate of the time required to complete the 755
repairs and the date upon which it is expected that the dwelling 756
unit will be ready for habitation. 757
(c) Upon completion of the repairs of the dwelling unit or 758
premises, the landlord must offer the tenant the first right to 759
return to the dwelling unit at the same rent and under a rental 760
agreement of substantially the same terms, subject to the 761
landlord's right to obtain a rent increase for capital 762
improvements. 763
Section 12. Subsection (2) of section 83.60, Florida 764
Statutes, is amended to read: 765
83.60 Defenses to action for rent or possession; 766
procedure.— 767
(2) In an action by the landlord for possession of a 768
dwelling unit, if the tenant interposes any defense other than 769
payment, including, but not limited to, the defense of a 770
defective 3-day notice, the tenant must shall pay into the 771
registry of the court the accrued rent as alleged in the 772
complaint or as determined by the court and the rent that 773
accrues during the pendency o f the proceeding, when due. The 774
clerk shall notify the tenant of such requirement in the 775
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 32 of 70
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
summons. Failure of the tenant to pay the rent into the registry 776
of the court or to file a motion to determine the amount of rent 777
to be paid into the registry within 5 days, excluding Saturdays, 778
Sundays, and legal holidays, after the date of service of 779
process constitutes an absolute waiver of the tenant's defenses 780
other than payment, and the landlord is entitled to an immediate 781
default judgment for removal of the tenan t with a writ of 782
possession to issue without further notice or hearing thereon. 783
If a motion to determine rent is filed, documentation in support 784
of the allegation that the rent as alleged in the complaint is 785
in error is required. Public housing tenants or tenants 786
receiving rent subsidies are required to deposit only that 787
portion of the full rent for which they are responsible pursuant 788
to the federal, state, or local program in which they are 789
participating. 790
Section 13. Section 83.626, Florida Statutes, i s created 791
to read: 792
83.626 Court records of eviction proceedings. — 793
(1) A tenant, mobile home owner, mobile home tenant, or 794
mobile home occupant who is a defendant in an eviction 795
proceeding under this part or s. 723.061 may file a motion with 796
the court to have the records of such proceeding sealed and to 797
have his or her name substituted with "tenant" or "occupant" on 798
the progress docket if any of the following conditions are 799
satisfied: 800
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 33 of 70
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
(a) The parties file a joint stipulation requesting relief 801
under this section. 802
(b) The case was dismissed. 803
(c) The case was resolved by settlement or stipulation of 804
the parties and the defendant has complied with the terms of the 805
agreement. 806
(d) A default judgment was entered against the defendant 807
and the defendant ha s satisfied any monetary award included in 808
the judgment. This paragraph does not apply if the action was 809
brought under s. 83.56(2)(a) or s. 723.061(1)(c) for material 810
noncompliance, other than nonpayment of rent, because of the 811
defendant's intentional dest ruction, damage, or misuse of the 812
landlord's property. 813
(e) A judgment was entered against the defendant on the 814
merits at least 5 years before the motion was filed under this 815
subsection and the defendant has satisfied any monetary award 816
included in the judgment. This paragraph does not apply if the 817
action was brought under s. 83.56(2)(a) or s. 723.061(1)(c) for 818
material noncompliance, other than nonpayment of rent, because 819
of the defendant's intentional destruction, damage, or misuse of 820
the landlord's property. 821
(2)(a) The court shall grant such motion without a hearing 822
if the requirements in paragraph (1)(a) or paragraph (1)(b) are 823
satisfied. 824
(b) If the defendant files a motion on the basis of 825
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 34 of 70
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
paragraph (1)(c), paragraph (1)(d), or paragraph (1)(e) bein g 826
satisfied, the defendant must also serve a copy of the motion on 827
all parties to the proceeding. If a written objection is filed 828
by a party within 30 days after such service, the court must 829
schedule a hearing. If a written objection is not filed within 830
30 days after such service, or the court determines after a 831
hearing that the defendant is eligible for relief, the court 832
must grant the motion. 833
(3) A tenant, mobile home owner, mobile home tenant, or 834
mobile home occupant is entitled to relief under subsect ion (2) 835
only once. When a tenant, mobile home owner, mobile home tenant, 836
or mobile home occupant files a motion under subsection (1), he 837
or she must also submit a sworn statement under penalty of 838
perjury affirming that he or she has not previously received 839
such relief from a court in this state. 840
(4) In an eviction proceeding under this part or s. 841
723.061, the court must substitute a defendant's name on the 842
progress docket with "tenant" or "occupant" if a judgment is 843
entered in favor of the defendant. 844
(5) A defendant is not eligible for relief under this 845
section if: 846
(a) During any 12-month period, the defendant has had a 847
judgment entered against him or her in two or more eviction 848
proceedings; or 849
(b) During any 24-month period, the defendant has had a 850
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 35 of 70
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
judgment entered against him or her in three or more eviction 851
proceedings. 852
(6) This section applies to any judgment entered before, 853
on, or after July 1, 2025. 854
Section 14. Section 83.63, Florida Statutes, is amended to 855
read: 856
83.63 Casualty damage. —If the premises are damaged or 857
destroyed other than by the wrongful or negligent acts of the 858
tenant so that the enjoyment of the premises is substantially 859
impaired, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement and 860
immediately vacate the premises. The tenant may vacate the part 861
of the premises rendered unusable by the casualty, in which case 862
the tenant's liability for rent shall be reduced by the fair 863
rental value of that part of the premises damaged or destroyed. 864
If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall comply 865
with s. 83.49(4) s. 83.49(3). 866
Section 15. Section 83.67, Florida Statutes, is amended to 867
read: 868
83.67 Prohibited practices. — 869
(1) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 870
may shall not cause, directly or indirectly, the termination or 871
interruption of any utility service furnished to the tenant, 872
including, but not limited to, water, heat, light, electricity, 873
gas, elevator, garbage collection, or refrigeration, whether or 874
not the utility service is under the control of, or payment is 875
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 36 of 70
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
made by, the landlord. 876
(2) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 877
may shall not prevent the tenant from gaining reasonable access 878
to the dwelling unit by any means, including, but not limited 879
to, changing the locks or using any bootlock or similar device. 880
(3) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 881
may shall not discriminate against a servicemember in offering a 882
dwelling unit for rent or in any of the terms of the rental 883
agreement. 884
(4) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 885
may not discriminate against a person in offering a dwelling 886
unit for rent or in any of the terms of the rental agreement 887
based on the person's race; color; religion; sex; pregnancy; 888
national origin; age; physical, mental, or developmental 889
disability; HIV status; familial status; sexual orientation; 890
gender identity; source of income; or credit score. For purposes 891
of this subsection, the term: 892
(a) "Familial status" means the makeup of a person's 893
family, including whether there is a child under the age of 18 894
living with the person or whether the person is seeking custody 895
of a child under the age of 18. 896
(b) "Gender identity" means the identity, appearance, or 897
behavior of a person, regardless of whethe r such identity, 898
appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally 899
associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at 900
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 37 of 70
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
birth. 901
(c) "Sexual orientation" means a person's heterosexuality, 902
homosexuality, or bisexuality. 903
(5) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 904
may not harass or intimidate a tenant for the purpose of 905
coercing the tenant into terminating the rental agreement. 906
(6) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 907
may not refuse to show the dwelling unit , either in person or 908
through photographs, to a prospective tenant until the 909
prospective tenant signs a rental agreement. 910
(7) Unless otherwise required by law, a landlord of any 911
dwelling unit governed by this part may not inquire into or 912
consider a prospective tenant's criminal history on a rental 913
application or rental agreement. A landlord may inquire into or 914
consider a prospective tenant's criminal history only after the 915
landlord otherwise determines that the prospective tenant 916
otherwise qualifies to re nt a dwelling unit. 917
(8) If a landlord requires a prospective tenant to 918
complete a rental application before residing in a dwelling 919
unit, the landlord may not charge an excessive rental 920
application fee. If, after a prospective tenant submits a rental 921
application and rental application fee, a dwelling unit is not 922
available, the landlord must refund the application fee to the 923
prospective tenant. 924
(9)(4) A landlord may shall not prohibit a tenant from 925
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 38 of 70
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
displaying one portable, removable, cloth or plastic Unit ed 926
States flag, not larger than 4 and 1/2 feet by 6 feet, in a 927
respectful manner in or on the dwelling unit regardless of any 928
provision in the rental agreement dealing with flags or 929
decorations. The United States flag shall be displayed in 930
accordance with s. 83.52(6). The landlord is not liable for 931
damages caused by a United States flag displayed by a tenant. 932
Any United States flag may not infringe upon the space rented by 933
any other tenant. 934
(10)(5) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this 935
part may shall not remove the outside doors, locks, roof, walls, 936
or windows of the unit except for purposes of maintenance, 937
repair, or replacement; and the landlord may shall not remove 938
the tenant's personal property from the dwelling unit unless 939
such action is taken after surrender, abandonment, recovery of 940
possession of the dwelling unit due to the death of the last 941
remaining tenant in accordance with s. 83.59(3)(d), or a lawful 942
eviction. If provided in the rental agreement or a written 943
agreement separate from th e rental agreement, upon surrender or 944
abandonment by the tenant, the landlord is not required to 945
comply with s. 715.104 and is not liable or responsible for 946
storage or disposition of the tenant's personal property; if 947
provided in the rental agreement, ther e must be printed or 948
clearly stamped on such rental agreement a legend in 949
substantially the following form: 950
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 39 of 70
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
951
BY SIGNING THIS RENTAL AGREEMENT, THE TENANT AGREES THAT UPON 952
SURRENDER, ABANDONMENT, OR RECOVERY OF POSSESSION OF THE 953
DWELLING UNIT DUE TO THE DEA TH OF THE LAST REMAINING TENANT, AS 954
PROVIDED BY CHAPTER 83, FLORIDA STATUTES, THE LANDLORD IS SHALL 955
NOT BE LIABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR STORAGE OR DISPOSITION OF THE 956
TENANT'S PERSONAL PROPERTY. 957
958
For the purposes of this section, abandonment is determined 959
shall be as provided set forth in s. 83.59(3)(c). 960
(11)(6) A landlord who violates any provision of this 961
section is shall be liable to the tenant for actual and 962
consequential damages or 3 months' rent, whichever is greater, 963
and costs, including attorney attorney's fees. Subsequent or 964
repeated violations that are not contemporaneous with the 965
initial violation are shall be subject to separate awards of 966
damages. 967
(12)(7) A violation of this section constitutes 968
irreparable harm for the purposes of injunctive relief. 969
(13)(8) The remedies provided by this section are not 970
exclusive and do not preclude the tenant from pursuing any other 971
remedy at law or equity that the tenant may have. The remedies 972
provided by this section shall also apply to a servicemember or 973
person who is a prospective tenant who has been discriminated 974
against under subsection (3) or subsection (4). 975
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 40 of 70
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
Section 16. Section 83.675, Florida Statutes, is created 976
to read: 977
83.675 Tenant opportunity to purchase. — 978
(1) For purposes of this section, the term: 979
(a) "Bona fide offer of sale" means an offer for a price, 980
and, including other material terms, that is at least as 981
favorable as what would be accepted by a purchaser in an arm's 982
length third-party contract, that is comparable to that at which 983
a willing seller and a willing buyer would sell and purchase the 984
dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is 985
located, or that is the appraised value of the dwelling unit or 986
premises. 987
(b) "Highest and best use" means the reasonable legal use 988
of a dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is 989
located that is physically possible, appropriately supported, 990
and financially feasible and that results in the highest value 991
of the dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit 992
is located. 993
(c) "Matter-of-right" means the appropriate land use, 994
development density, or building requirements of the dwelling 995
unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is located under 996
zoning regulations and law. 997
(2) Before a landlord may sell a dwelling un it or the 998
premises on which a dwelling unit is located or issue a notice 999
to vacate the dwelling unit or premises for purposes of 1000
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 41 of 70
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
demolition or discontinuance of housing use, the landlord must 1001
give the tenant an opportunity to purchase the dwelling unit or 1002
the premises on which the dwelling unit is located at a price 1003
and with material terms that represent a bona fide offer of 1004
sale. 1005
(3) A landlord shall provide the tenant a copy of the 1006
offer of sale, in the preferred language of the tenant, by hand 1007
delivery, e-mail, or certified mail. A landlord may not retain a 1008
percentage of ownership in the dwelling unit or the premises on 1009
which the dwelling unit is located in the offer of sale. 1010
(4) The sales price contained in the offer of sale may not 1011
be more than a price that is comparable to that at which a 1012
willing seller and a willing buyer would sell and purchase the 1013
dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is 1014
located or that is the appraised value of the dwelling unit or 1015
premises. 1016
(5) The appraised value must be based on rights a landlord 1017
has as a matter-of-right as of the date of the offer of sale, 1018
including any existing right a landlord may have to convert the 1019
dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is 1020
located to another use. The appraised value may take into 1021
consideration the highest and best use of the dwelling unit or 1022
premises. 1023
(6) A tenant may challenge an offer of sale as not being a 1024
bona fide offer of sale and request a determination of the 1025
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 42 of 70
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
appraised value by an independen t licensed appraiser, as defined 1026
in s. 475.611, at his or her expense, by providing written 1027
notice to the landlord and the Division of Consumer Services 1028
within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by 1029
hand delivery, e-mail, or certified mail within 30 days after 1030
receipt of the offer of sale. 1031
(7) The landlord has the burden of proof to establish that 1032
an offer of sale under this section is a bona fide offer of 1033
sale. 1034
Section 17. Section 83.676, Florida Statutes, is created 1035
to read: 1036
83.676 Early termination of rental agreement by a victim 1037
of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or 1038
stalking; lock changing. — 1039
(1) As used in this section, the term: 1040
(a) "Dating violence" has the same meaning as in s. 1041
784.046(1)(d). 1042
(b) "Domestic violence" has the same meaning as in s. 1043
741.28. 1044
(c) "Sexual violence" has the same meaning as in s. 1045
784.046(1)(c). 1046
(d) "Stalking," as described in s. 784.048(2), means 1047
willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly following, harassing, or 1048
cyberstalking another person. 1049
(2) A landlord may not terminate a rental agreement or 1050
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 43 of 70
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
evict a tenant for an incident involving actual or threatened 1051
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking 1052
if the tenant or the tenant's minor child is the victim of such 1053
actual or threatened violence or stalking. A rental agreement 1054
may not include a provision deeming that early termination of a 1055
rental agreement because of an incident involving actual or 1056
threatened domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence , 1057
or stalking, in which the tenant or the tenant's minor child is 1058
a victim and not the perpetrator, is a breach of the rental 1059
agreement. 1060
(3)(a) If a tenant or a tenant's minor child is a victim 1061
of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, 1062
sexual violence, or stalking during the term of a rental 1063
agreement, the tenant may, without penalty, terminate the rental 1064
agreement at any time by providing the landlord with written 1065
notice of the tenant's intent to terminate the rental agreement 1066
and to vacate the premises because of such incident. The 1067
termination of the rental agreement is effective immediately 1068
upon delivery of the written notice and documentation specified 1069
in paragraph (b), if applicable, to the landlord. 1070
(b) Unless the landlord notifie s the tenant that 1071
documentation is not needed, a notice of termination from the 1072
tenant required under paragraph (a) must be accompanied by 1073
documentation verifying the tenant's or the tenant's minor 1074
child's status as a victim of actual or threatened domesti c 1075
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 44 of 70
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
violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking, which 1076
may include: 1077
1. A copy of an injunction for protection against domestic 1078
violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking issued 1079
to the tenant as the victim or as parent of a minor vi ctim; 1080
2. A copy of an order of no contact or a criminal 1081
conviction entered by a court in a criminal case in which the 1082
defendant was charged with a crime relating to domestic 1083
violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking against 1084
the tenant or the tenant's minor child; 1085
3. A written verification from a domestic violence center 1086
certified under chapter 39 or a rape crisis center as defined in 1087
s. 794.055(2) which states that the tenant or the tenant's minor 1088
child is a victim of actual or threatened domestic violence, 1089
dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking; or 1090
4. A copy of a law enforcement report documenting an 1091
incident of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating 1092
violence, sexual violence, or stalking against the tenant or the 1093
tenant's minor child. 1094
(c) A notice of termination from the tenant required under 1095
paragraph (a) must be provided by certified mail or hand 1096
delivery to the landlord, a person authorized to receive notices 1097
on behalf of the landlord under s. 83.50, a resident manage r, or 1098
the person or entity that collects the rent on behalf of the 1099
landlord. 1100
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 45 of 70
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
(d) If a rental agreement with a specific duration is 1101
terminated by a tenant under this subsection less than 30 days 1102
before the end of the rental agreement, the tenant is liable for 1103
the rent for the remaining period of the rental agreement. If a 1104
rental agreement with a specific duration is terminated by a 1105
tenant under this subsection 30 or more days before the end of 1106
the rental agreement, the tenant is liable for prorated rent fo r 1107
a period of 30 days immediately following delivery of the notice 1108
of termination. After compliance with this paragraph, the tenant 1109
is released from any further obligation to pay rent, 1110
concessions, damages, fees, or penalties, and the landlord is 1111
not entitled to the remedies provided in s. 83.595. 1112
(e) If a rental agreement is terminated by a tenant under 1113
this subsection, the landlord must comply with s. 83.49(3). A 1114
tenant who terminates a rental agreement under this subsection 1115
does not forfeit any deposit money or advance rent paid to the 1116
landlord. 1117
(f) This subsection does not affect a tenant's liability 1118
for unpaid rent or other amounts owed to the landlord before the 1119
termination of the rental agreement under this subsection. 1120
(g) If the perpetrator of actual or threatened domestic 1121
violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking is also 1122
a tenant under the same rental agreement as the tenant who is a 1123
victim, or whose minor child is a victim, of such actual or 1124
threatened violence or stalking, neith er the perpetrator's 1125
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 46 of 70
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
liability for rent nor his or her other obligations under the 1126
rental agreement are terminated under this subsection, and the 1127
landlord is entitled to the rights and remedies provided by this 1128
part against the perpetrator. 1129
(4)(a) A tenant or a tenant's minor child who is a victim 1130
of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, 1131
sexual violence, or stalking and who wishes to remain in the 1132
dwelling unit may make a written request to the landlord 1133
accompanied by any one of the doc uments listed in paragraph 1134
(3)(b), and the landlord shall, within 24 hours after receipt of 1135
the request, change the locks of the tenant's dwelling unit and 1136
provide the tenant with a key to the new locks. 1137
(b) If the landlord fails to change the locks with in 24 1138
hours, the tenant may change the locks without the landlord's 1139
permission, notwithstanding any contrary provision in the rental 1140
agreement or other applicable rules or regulations imposed by 1141
the landlord, if all of the following conditions have been me t: 1142
1. The locks are changed in like manner as if the landlord 1143
had changed the locks, with locks of similar or better quality 1144
than the original locks. 1145
2. The landlord is notified within 24 hours after the 1146
changing of the locks. 1147
3. The landlord is provided a key to the new locks within 1148
a reasonable time. 1149
(c) If the locks are changed under this subsection, the 1150
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 47 of 70
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
landlord is not liable to any person who does not have access to 1151
the dwelling unit. 1152
(5) A landlord may not refuse to enter into a rental 1153
agreement for a dwelling unit, refuse to negotiate for the 1154
rental of a dwelling unit, make a dwelling unit unavailable, or 1155
retaliate in the rental of a dwelling unit because: 1156
(a) The tenant, prospective tenant, or minor child of the 1157
tenant or prospective tenant is a victim of actual or threatened 1158
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or 1159
stalking; or 1160
(b) The tenant or prospective tenant has previously 1161
terminated a rental agreement because of an incident involving 1162
actual or threatened domest ic violence, dating violence, sexual 1163
violence, or stalking in which the tenant, prospective tenant, 1164
or minor child of the tenant or prospective tenant was a victim. 1165
1166
However, the landlord may refuse to enter into a rental 1167
agreement, negotiate for the renta l of a dwelling unit, or make 1168
a dwelling unit available if the tenant or prospective tenant 1169
fails to comply with the landlord's request for documentation of 1170
an incident of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating 1171
violence, sexual violence, or stalkin g that occurred before 1172
termination of a prior rental agreement. A landlord's request 1173
for documentation is satisfied upon the tenant's or prospective 1174
tenant's provision of any one of the documents listed in 1175
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 48 of 70
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
paragraph (3)(b). 1176
(6) All information provided t o a landlord under 1177
subsections (3), (4), and (5), including the fact that a tenant, 1178
prospective tenant, or a tenant's or prospective tenant's minor 1179
child is or was a victim of actual or threatened domestic 1180
violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or sta lking, and 1181
including the tenant's forwarding address, is confidential. The 1182
landlord may not enter such information into any shared database 1183
or provide the information to any other person or entity, except 1184
to the extent such disclosure is: 1185
(a) Made to a person specified in paragraph (3)(c) solely 1186
for a legitimate business purpose; 1187
(b) Requested, or consented to, in writing by the tenant 1188
or the tenant's legal guardian; 1189
(c) Required for use in a judicial proceeding; or 1190
(d) Otherwise required by law. 1191
(7) A tenant or prospective tenant, on his or her own 1192
behalf or on behalf of his or her minor child, may file a civil 1193
action against a landlord for a violation of this section. A 1194
landlord who violates subsection (5) or subsection (6) is 1195
civilly liable to the victim for $1,000 for punitive damages, 1196
actual and consequential damages, and court costs, including 1197
reasonable attorney fees, unless the landlord can show that this 1198
was the landlord's first violation and the violation was not 1199
committed in bad faith. Su bsequent or repeated violations that 1200
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 49 of 70
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
are not contemporaneous with the initial violation are subject 1201
to separate awards of damages. 1202
(8) The provisions of this section may not be waived or 1203
modified by a rental agreement. 1204
Section 18. Section 83.685, Flo rida Statutes, is created 1205
to read: 1206
83.685 Conversion of single -family homes to rental 1207
property; ownership quotas prohibited. — 1208
(1) A person may not purchase a single -family home for a 1209
purpose other than residential use if the person owns 100 or 1210
more single-family homes that are used primarily for rental 1211
purposes. 1212
(2)(a) The Attorney General may conduct civil 1213
investigations and bring civil actions pursuant to this 1214
subsection. In an action brought by the Attorney General 1215
pursuant to this subsection, the court may award or impose any 1216
relief available under this subsection. 1217
(b) A person aggrieved by a violation of this section may 1218
bring an action in the circuit court against a person who 1219
acquires a single-family home in violation of this section. A 1220
court may impose civil penalties on a person that violates this 1221
section not to exceed $100 per day for each single -family home 1222
acquired in violation of this section and may award to a 1223
plaintiff that prevails in an action brought pursuant to this 1224
subsection one or more of the following remedies: 1225
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 50 of 70
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
1. Equitable relief. 1226
2. Damages. 1227
3. Costs and fees, including reasonable attorney fees. 1228
4. Exemplary damages in an amount equal to $50,000 or 1229
three times the total of damages, costs, and fees, whichever is 1230
greater. 1231
(c) A court may award to a defendant who prevails in an 1232
action brought pursuant to this subsection costs and fees, 1233
including reasonable attorney fees, if the court finds the 1234
action was not well grounded in fact and warranted by existing 1235
law or was interposed for any improper purpose, such as to 1236
harass or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the 1237
cost of litigation. 1238
(d) In an action arising under paragraph (a) or paragraph 1239
(b), the court shall grant a motion by the Attorney General or a 1240
person aggrieved under this section for joinder of any affiliate 1241
of a defendant named in the litigation for purposes of: 1242
1. Ensuring a proper accounting regarding the total number 1243
of single-family homes owned by the named defendant and any 1244
affiliates. 1245
2. Authorizing proper enforcement, remedies, and damages. 1246
(e) If a party is unable to pay an amount awarded by the 1247
court pursuant to paragraph (b), the court may find any 1248
interested party joined pursuant to paragraph (d) jointly and 1249
severally liable for vio lation of this section and make the 1250
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 51 of 70
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
award recoverable against any or all of the joined interested 1251
parties. 1252
(f) This subsection does not limit rights and remedies 1253
available to this state or to any person under any other law and 1254
does not alter or restrict the Attorney General's authority 1255
under this section with regard to conduct involving assertions 1256
of violations of this section. 1257
(3) For purposes of this section, the term: 1258
(a) "Affiliate" means a person, other than an individual, 1259
which wholly or substan tially owns, is wholly or substantially 1260
owned by, or is under common ownership with another person. 1261
(b) "Person" means a fiduciary, a firm, an association, a 1262
partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, or any 1263
other business entity or group a cting as a unit. The term 1264
includes an officer or employee of a corporation; a member, a 1265
manager, or an employee of a limited liability company; and a 1266
member or an employee of a partnership who, as officer, 1267
employee, member, or manager, acts on behalf of th e business 1268
entity with whom they are associated or an affiliate of that 1269
business entity. The term does not include a governmental 1270
entity. 1271
Section 19. Subsection (14) is added to section 163.31801, 1272
Florida Statutes, to read: 1273
163.31801 Impact fees; sho rt title; intent; minimum 1274
requirements; audits; challenges. — 1275
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 52 of 70
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
(14) A local government may adopt by ordinance or a 1276
special district may adopt by resolution an impact fee that is 1277
charged to a developer when residents are displaced from their 1278
homes due to gentrification by the developer. The revenue 1279
generated from the impact fee must be used for affordable 1280
housing in the county, municipality, or special district that 1281
adopted such impact fee. 1282
Section 20. Section 166.0452, Florida Statutes, is created 1283
to read: 1284
166.0452 Community Land Bank Program. — 1285
(1) For purposes of this section, the term: 1286
(a) "Affordable" has the same meaning as in s. 420.0004. 1287
(b) "Community housing development organization" has the 1288
same meaning as in s. 420.503. 1289
(c) "Community land bank plan" or "plan" means a plan 1290
adopted by the governing body of a municipality to implement a 1291
community land bank program. 1292
(d) "Community land bank program" or "program" means the 1293
program created by a governing body of a municipality under this 1294
section. 1295
(e) "Land bank" means an entity established or approved by 1296
the governing body of a municipality for the purpose of 1297
acquiring, holding, and transferring unimproved real property 1298
under this section. 1299
(f) "Low-income household" has the same meanin g as in s. 1300
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 53 of 70
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
420.9071. 1301
(g) "Qualified organization" means a community housing 1302
development organization that meets all of the following 1303
criteria: 1304
1. Contains within its designated geographical boundaries 1305
of operation, as set forth in its application for certification 1306
filed with and approved by the municipality, a portion of the 1307
property that a land bank is offering for sale. 1308
2. Has built at least three single -family homes or 1309
duplexes or one multifamily residential dwelling of four or more 1310
housing units in compliance with all applicable building codes 1311
within the preceding 2 -year period and within its designated 1312
geographical boundaries of operation. 1313
3. Has developed or rehabilitated housing units within the 1314
preceding 3-year period that are within a 2 -mile radius of the 1315
property that a land bank is offering for sale. 1316
(h) "Qualified participating developer" means a developer 1317
that meets all of the following criteria: 1318
1. Has developed three or more housing units within the 3 -1319
year period preceding its subm ission of a proposal to the land 1320
bank seeking to acquire real property from a land bank. 1321
2. Has a development plan approved by the governing body 1322
of the municipality for the property acquired from a land bank. 1323
3. Any other requirements adopted by the governing body of 1324
the municipality in its community land bank plan. 1325
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 54 of 70
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
1326
The term includes a qualified organization. 1327
(i) "Very-low-income household" has the same meaning as in 1328
s. 420.9071. 1329
(2) The governing body of a municipality may create a 1330
community land bank program in which the person charged with 1331
selling real property pursuant to a foreclosure judgment may 1332
sell certain eligible real property by private sale for purposes 1333
of affordable housing developments. The governing body of a 1334
municipality that adop ts a community land bank program shall 1335
establish or approve a land bank for the purpose of acquiring, 1336
holding, and transferring unimproved real property under this 1337
section. 1338
(3)(a) The governing body of a municipality that creates a 1339
community land bank pr ogram shall operate the program in 1340
conformance with a community land bank plan that the 1341
municipality adopts annually. The plan may be amended as needed. 1342
(b) In developing the plan, the governing body of a 1343
municipality shall consider other housing plans a dopted by the 1344
governing body, including the comprehensive plan submitted to 1345
the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development 1346
and all fair housing plans and policies adopted or agreed to by 1347
the governing body. 1348
(c) The plan must include, at a minimum, all of the 1349
following: 1350
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 55 of 70
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
1. A list of community housing development organizations 1351
eligible to participate in the right of first refusal under 1352
subsection (6). The plan must also include the time period 1353
during which the right of first refusal may be exercised, which 1354
time period must be at least 9 months but not more than 26 1355
months after the date of the deed of conveyance of the property 1356
to the land bank. 1357
2. A right of first refusal for any other nonprofit 1358
corporation exempted from federal income tax under s. 501(c)(3) 1359
of the United States Internal Revenue Code if the preeminent 1360
right of first refusal is provided to qualified organizations as 1361
provided in subsection (6). 1362
3. A list of the parcels of real property that may be 1363
eligible for sale to the l and bank during the next year. 1364
4. The municipality's plan for the development of 1365
affordable housing on those parcels of real property. 1366
5. The sources and amounts of money the municipality 1367
anticipates to be available for subsidies for the development of 1368
affordable housing in the municipality, including any money 1369
specifically available for housing developed under the program, 1370
as approved by the governing body of the municipality at the 1371
time the plan is adopted. 1372
6. The amount of additional time, if any, that a property 1373
may be held in the land bank once an offer has been received 1374
from a qualified participating developer and accepted by the 1375
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 56 of 70
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
land bank. 1376
(4)(a) Before the adoption of a plan, the governing body 1377
of a municipality must hold a public hearing on the proposed 1378
plan. 1379
(b) The city manager or his or her designee must provide 1380
notice of the public hearing to all community housing 1381
development organizations and to the neighborhood associations 1382
identified by the governing body of the municipality as servi ng 1383
the neighborhoods in which properties anticipated to be 1384
available for sale to the land bank under this section are 1385
located. 1386
(c) The city manager or his or her designee must make 1387
copies of the proposed plan available to the public at least 60 1388
days before the date of the public hearing. 1389
(5)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (f), property that 1390
is ordered sold pursuant to a foreclosure judgment may be sold 1391
in a private sale to a land bank by the person charged with the 1392
sale of the property without first offering the property for 1393
sale as otherwise provided in chapter 45 if all of the following 1394
apply: 1395
1. The market value of the property as specified in the 1396
judgment of foreclosure is less than the total amount due under 1397
the judgment, including all taxes, penalties, and interest, plus 1398
the value of nontax liens held by a taxing unit and awarded by 1399
the judgment, court costs, and the cost of the sale. 1400
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 57 of 70
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
2. The property is not improved with a building or 1401
buildings. 1402
3. There are delinquent taxes on the propert y for a total 1403
of at least 5 years. 1404
4. The governing body of the municipality has executed an 1405
interlocal agreement with the other taxing units that are 1406
parties to the foreclosure proceeding which enables those taxing 1407
units to agree to participate in the p rogram while retaining the 1408
right to withhold consent to the sale of the specific properties 1409
to the land bank. 1410
(b) A sale of property for use in connection with the 1411
program is a sale for a public purpose. 1412
(c) If the person being sued in a foreclosure pr oceeding 1413
does not contest the market value of the property in the 1414
proceeding, the person waives the right to challenge the amount 1415
of the market value determined by the court for purposes of the 1416
sale of the property under s. 45.031. 1417
(d) For any sale of pr operty under this section, the 1418
person charged with the sale of the property must provide each 1419
person who was a defendant to the judgment, or that person's 1420
attorney, written notice at least 90 days before the date of the 1421
proposed sale of the property. Such notice must be given in 1422
accordance with the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. 1423
(e) After receipt of the notice required under paragraph 1424
(d) and before the date of the proposed sale, the owner of the 1425
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 58 of 70
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
property subject to the sale may file with the person ch arged 1426
with the sale a written request that the property not be sold in 1427
the manner provided under this section. 1428
(f) If the person charged with the sale receives a written 1429
request as provided in paragraph (e), the person must sell the 1430
property as otherwise provided in chapter 45. 1431
(g) The owner of the property subject to the sale may not 1432
receive any proceeds of a sale under this section and does not 1433
have any personal liability for a deficiency of the judgment as 1434
a result of a sale under this section. 1435
(h) If consent is given by the taxing units that are a 1436
party to the judgment, property may be sold to a land bank for 1437
less than the market value of the property as specified in the 1438
judgment or less than the total of all taxes, penalties, and 1439
interest, plus the value of nontax liens held by a taxing unit 1440
and awarded by the judgment, court costs, and the cost of the 1441
sale. 1442
(i) The deed of conveyance of the property sold to a land 1443
bank under this section conveys to the land bank the right, 1444
title, and interest in the property acquired or held by each 1445
taxing unit that was a party to the judgment, subject to the 1446
right of redemption. 1447
(6) After receiving the deed of conveyance of the 1448
property, a land bank must first offer the property for sale to 1449
qualified organizations. 1450
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 59 of 70
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
(a) A land bank must provide notice to qualified 1451
organizations by certified mail, return receipt requested, at 1452
least 60 days before the beginning of the time period in which a 1453
right of first refusal may be exercised according to a 1454
municipality's community land bank plan. 1455
(b) If a land bank conveys the property to a qualified 1456
organization before the expiration of the time period specified 1457
by the community land bank plan, the interlocal agreement 1458
executed under subparagraph (5)(a)4. must provide tax abatement 1459
for the property until the expiration of the time period. 1460
(c) During the right of first refusal time period, a land 1461
bank may not sell the property to a qualified participating 1462
developer other than a qualified organization. If all qualified 1463
organizations notify the land bank that they are declining to 1464
exercise their right of first refusal during the applicable time 1465
period, the land bank may sell the property to any other 1466
qualified participating developer at the same price that the 1467
land bank offered the property to the qualified organizations. 1468
(d) If more than one qualified organization expresses an 1469
interest in exercising its right of first refusal, the 1470
organization that has the most geographically compact area 1471
encompassing a portion of the prop erty as designated it its 1472
application for certification is given priority. 1473
(e) A land bank is not required to provide a right of 1474
first refusal to qualified organizations under this section if 1475
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 60 of 70
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
the land bank is selling property that reverted to the land ba nk 1476
as provided under subsection (7). 1477
(7) Each subsequent resale of property acquired by a land 1478
bank under this section must comply with the conditions of this 1479
subsection. 1480
(a) A land bank must sell a property to a qualified 1481
participating developer withi n 3 years after receiving the deed 1482
of conveyance of the property for the purpose of construction of 1483
affordable housing for sale or rent to low -income households or 1484
very-low-income households. If the land bank has not sold the 1485
property within those 3 years, the property must be transferred 1486
from the land bank back to the taxing units that were parties to 1487
the foreclosure judgment for disposition as otherwise allowed 1488
under law. 1489
(b) The number of properties acquired by a qualified 1490
participating developer under this section on which development 1491
has not been completed may not at any time exceed three times 1492
the annual average residential production completed by the 1493
qualified participating developer during the preceding 2 -year 1494
period, as determined by the governing body of the municipality. 1495
In its community land bank plan, the governing body of the 1496
municipality may increase the number of properties a qualified 1497
participating developer may acquire. 1498
(c) The deed conveying a property sold by a land bank must 1499
include a right of reverter so that, if the qualified 1500
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 61 of 70
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
participating developer does not apply for a construction permit 1501
and close on any construction financing within 2 years after the 1502
date of the conveyance of the property from the land bank to the 1503
qualified participating developer, the property reverts to the 1504
land bank for subsequent resale to another qualified 1505
participating developer or conveyance to the taxing units as 1506
required under paragraph (a). 1507
(d) The proceeds from sales under this section must be 1508
reinvested back into the community land bank program. 1509
(8)(a) A land bank must impose deed restrictions on 1510
property sold to qualified participating developers requiring 1511
the development and sale or rental of the property to low -income 1512
households and very-low-income households. 1513
(b) At least 25 percent of a land bank's properties sold 1514
during any given fiscal year to be developed for sale must be 1515
deed restricted for sale to households whose total annual 1516
household income does not exceed 60 percent of the area median 1517
income, adjusted for household size, for the metropolitan 1518
statistical area in which the municipality is located, as 1519
determined annually by the United States Department of Housing 1520
and Urban Development. 1521
(c)1. If the property sold is to be developed for re ntal 1522
units, the deed restrictions must last for at least 20 years and 1523
prohibit the exclusion of a person or family from admission to 1524
the development based solely on the participation of the person 1525
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 62 of 70
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
or family in the Housing Choice Voucher Program under s. 8 of 1526
the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended. Additionally, 1527
the deed restrictions must require: 1528
a. That 100 percent of the rental units be occupied by and 1529
affordable to households whose total annual household income 1530
does not exceed 60 percent of the area median income, adjusted 1531
for household size, for the metropolitan statistical area in 1532
which the municipality is located, as determined annually by the 1533
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; 1534
b. That 40 percent of the rental uni ts be occupied by and 1535
affordable to households whose total annual household income 1536
does not exceed 50 percent of the area median income, adjusted 1537
for household size, for the metropolitan statistical area in 1538
which the municipality is located, as determined annually by the 1539
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; or 1540
c. That 20 percent of the rental units be occupied by and 1541
affordable to households whose total annual household income 1542
does not exceed 30 percent of the area median income, adj usted 1543
for household size, for the metropolitan statistical area in 1544
which the municipality is located, as determined annually by the 1545
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. 1546
2. The owner of a development with deed restrictions 1547
required under this paragraph must file an annual occupancy 1548
report with the municipality on a form adopted by the governing 1549
body of the municipality. 1550
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 63 of 70
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
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this section, if the 1551
deed restrictions imposed under this subsection are for a number 1552
of years, the deed restrictions must renew automatically. 1553
(e) A land bank or the governing body of a municipality 1554
may modify or add to the deed restrictions imposed under this 1555
subsection. Any modifications or additions made by the governing 1556
body of the municipality must be adopted by the governing body 1557
as part of its community land bank plan and must comply with the 1558
restrictions in this subsection. 1559
(9)(a) A land bank must keep accurate minutes of its 1560
meetings and accurate records and books of ac count that conform 1561
with generally accepted principles of accounting and that 1562
clearly reflect the income and expenses of the land bank and all 1563
transactions in relation to its property. 1564
(b) A land bank must maintain in its records for 1565
inspection a copy of the sale settlement statement for each 1566
property sold by a qualified participating developer and a copy 1567
of the first page of the mortgage note with the interest rate 1568
and indicating the volume and page number of the instrument as 1569
filed with the county clerk. 1570
(c) Within 90 days after the close of its fiscal year, a 1571
land bank must file with the municipality an annual audited 1572
financial statement prepared by a certified public accountant. 1573
The financial transactions of the land bank are subject to audit 1574
by the municipality. 1575
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 64 of 70
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
(d) For purposes of evaluating the effectiveness of the 1576
program, a land bank must submit an annual performance report to 1577
the municipality by November 1 of each year in which the land 1578
bank acquires or sells property under this section. The 1579
performance report must include all of the following: 1580
1. A complete and detailed written accounting of all money 1581
and properties received and disbursed by the land bank during 1582
the preceding fiscal year. 1583
2. For each property acquired by the land bank durin g the 1584
preceding fiscal year: 1585
a. The street address of the property. 1586
b. The legal description of the property. 1587
c. The date on which the land bank took title to the 1588
property. 1589
d. The full name and street address of the property owner 1590
of record at the time of the foreclosure proceeding. 1591
3. For each property sold by the land bank to a qualified 1592
participating developer during the preceding fiscal year: 1593
a. The street address of the property. 1594
b. The legal description of the property. 1595
c. The full name and mailing address of the developer. 1596
d. The purchase price paid by the developer. 1597
e. The maximum incomes allowed for the households by the 1598
terms of the sale. 1599
f. The source and amount of any public subsidy provided by 1600
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 65 of 70
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
the municipality to facilitate the sale or rental of the 1601
property to a household within the targeted income range. 1602
4. For each property sold by a qualified participating 1603
developer during the preceding fiscal year, the buyer's 1604
household income and a description of all use and sale 1605
restrictions. 1606
5. For each property developed for rental units with an 1607
active deed restriction, a copy of the most recent annual report 1608
filed by the owner of the land bank. 1609
(e) A land bank must provide copies of the performance 1610
report to the taxing units t hat were parties to the judgment of 1611
foreclosure and provide notice of the availability of the 1612
performance report for review to the organizations and 1613
neighborhood associations identified by the governing body of 1614
the municipality as serving the neighborhoods in which 1615
properties sold to the land bank under this section are located. 1616
(f) The land bank and municipality must maintain copies of 1617
all performance reports and make such reports available for 1618
public review. 1619
(10) This section does not apply to propert y acquired 1620
through an eminent domain action. 1621
Section 21. Subsection (1) of section 196.061, Florida 1622
Statutes, is amended to read: 1623
196.061 Rental of homestead to constitute abandonment. — 1624
(1)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), the rental of 1625
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 66 of 70
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
all or substantially all of a dwelling previously claimed to be 1626
a homestead for tax purposes shall constitute the abandonment of 1627
such dwelling as a homestead, and the abandonment continues 1628
until the dwelling is physically occupied by the owner. However, 1629
such abandonment of the homestead after January 1 of any year 1630
does not affect the homestead exemption for tax purposes for 1631
that particular year unless the property is rented for more than 1632
30 days per calendar year for 2 consecutive years. 1633
(b) The rental of any portion of a dwelling previously 1634
claimed to be a homestead for tax purposes does not constitute 1635
abandonment if the owner resides on the property. 1636
Section 22. Section 201.025, Florida Statutes, is created 1637
to read: 1638
201.025 Tax on deeds relating to res idential property 1639
purchased by private equity firms. — 1640
(1) When a deed, an instrument, or any other writing for a 1641
residential single-family dwelling, a manufactured home, or an 1642
apartment complex is granted, assigned, transferred, or 1643
otherwise conveyed to a purchaser that is a private equity firm 1644
or corporation that has at least $20 million in assets, the tax 1645
is $100 on each $100 of the consideration. 1646
(2) All documentary stamp tax revenues generated under 1647
this section must be deposited into the Florida Af fordable 1648
Housing Trust Fund. 1649
(3) Taxes imposed by this section do not apply to an 1650
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 67 of 70
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
assignment, a deed, a transfer, a conveyance, or any other 1651
disposition that arises out of a transfer of real property if 1652
the purchaser is: 1653
(a) A nonprofit organization as defined in s. 201.02(6). 1654
(b) A government entity as defined in s. 768.295(2). 1655
(c) A person purchasing such real property pursuant to a 1656
government program to provide housing to low -income persons as 1657
defined in s. 420.0004(11). 1658
Section 23. Section 2 20.1851, Florida Statutes, is created 1659
to read: 1660
220.1851 Retail-to-residence tax credit. — 1661
(1) As used in this section, the term: 1662
(a) "Credit period" means the period of 5 years beginning 1663
with the year a project is completed. 1664
(b) "Designated project" means a qualified project 1665
designated pursuant to s. 420.50931 to receive the tax credit 1666
under this section. 1667
(c) "Qualified project" means a project to redevelop a 1668
structure that was originally developed as a shopping center to 1669
provide appropriate and af fordable workforce housing. 1670
(d) "Shopping center" means an area designed to provide 1671
space for multiple storefronts within a single building or 1672
sharing a common parking lot. 1673
(2)(a) There shall be allowed a tax credit of up to 9 1674
percent, but no more than necessary to make the project 1675
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 68 of 70
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
feasible, of the total cost of a designated project for each 1676
year of the credit period against any tax due for a taxable year 1677
under this chapter. 1678
(b) The tax credit shall be allocated among designated 1679
projects by the Florid a Housing Finance Corporation as provided 1680
in s. 420.50931. 1681
(c) A tax credit allocated to a designated project may be 1682
subject to transfer by the recipient. Such transferred credits 1683
may not be transferred again. The department shall adopt rules 1684
necessary to administer this paragraph. 1685
Section 24. Section 420.50931, Florida Statutes, is 1686
created to read: 1687
420.50931 Retail-to-residence Tax Credit Program. — 1688
(1) There is created the Retail -to-residence Tax Credit 1689
Program for the purpose of redeveloping sho pping centers into 1690
appropriate and affordable workforce housing. 1691
(2) The corporation shall determine those qualified 1692
projects, as defined in s. 220.1851(1), which shall be 1693
considered designated projects under s. 220.1851 and eligible 1694
for the corporate ta x credit under that section. The corporation 1695
shall establish procedures necessary for proper allocation and 1696
distribution of tax credits, including the establishment of 1697
criteria for ensuring that the housing is appropriate and 1698
affordable for the workers of the state, and may exercise all 1699
powers necessary to administer the allocation of such credits. 1700
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 69 of 70
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
The board of directors of the corporation shall administer the 1701
allocation procedures and determine allocations on behalf of the 1702
corporation. The corporation shal l prepare an annual plan, which 1703
must be approved by the Governor, containing general guidelines 1704
for the allocation of tax credits to designated projects. 1705
(3) The corporation shall adopt allocation procedures to 1706
ensure that tax credits are used in a fair manner, taking into 1707
consideration the timeliness of the application, the location of 1708
the proposed project, the relative need in the area for 1709
appropriate and affordable workforce housing and the 1710
availability of such housing, the economic feasibility of the 1711
proposed project, and the ability of the applicant to complete 1712
the proposed project in the calendar year for which the tax 1713
credit is sought. 1714
(4)(a) A taxpayer who wishes to participate in the Retail -1715
to-residence Tax Credit Program must submit an applicat ion for 1716
tax credit to the corporation. The application must identify the 1717
proposed project and the location of the proposed project and 1718
include evidence that the proposed project is a qualified 1719
project as defined in s. 220.1851(1). The corporation may 1720
request any information from an applicant necessary to enable 1721
the corporation to allocate tax credits pursuant to the 1722
procedures adopted under subsection (3). 1723
(b) The corporation's approval of an application for a 1724
project must be in writing and include a stat ement of the 1725
HB 1471 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1471-00
Page 70 of 70
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
maximum tax credit that may be granted to the applicant. 1726
Section 25. Section 420.5098, Florida Statutes, is created 1727
to read: 1728
420.5098 Affordable Housing Construction Loan Program. — 1729
(1) The Affordable Housing Construction Loan Program i s 1730
created to encourage the new construction of affordable homes 1731
for purchase by low-income to moderate-income homebuyers by 1732
providing a revolving line of construction funding. 1733
(2) The corporation may provide loans under the program to 1734
applicants for construction of affordable housing. Applicants 1735
may draw from the loan up to five times per home. All homes must 1736
meet the requirements of the Florida Building Code or, if more 1737
stringent, local amendments to the Florida Building Code. 1738
(3) Qualified homebuyers of homes built under this program 1739
must be first-time homebuyers who earn no more than 120 percent 1740
of the area median income. 1741
(4) The corporation shall develop a loan application 1742
process for the program. 1743
(5) The corporation may adopt rules pursuant to s s. 1744
120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this section. 1745
Section 26. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 1746