Bill > S1592

Introduced Session

An act relating to housing; providing a short title; creating s. 20.71, F.S.; creating the Department of Housing and Tenant Rights; requiring the secretary, the head of the department, to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate; providing duties of the secretary; providing the purpose of the department; requiring that a report on the implementation of an empty homes tax be provided to the Governor and Legislature by a specified date; providing government reorganization for certain chapters of law; amending s. 83.43, F.S.; revising the definitions of the terms “rent” and “tenant”; creating s. 83.455, F.S.; providing requirements for rental agreements; requiring that rental agreements include certain information; amending s. 83.46, F.S.; providing requirements relating to a written notice of a planned rent increase provided to tenants; amending s. 83.47, F.S.; providing that certain provisions in a rental agreement are void and unenforceable; amending s. 83.49, F.S.; providing requirements relating to security deposits; deleting the option for a landlord to deposit certain money into a non-interest-bearing account; revising written notice requirements to tenants; providing for damages if a landlord fails to meet certain requirements; creating s. 83.495, F.S.; providing a short title; prohibiting landlords from requiring prospective tenants to pay certain fees; providing construction; amending s. 83.51, F.S.; requiring a landlord to inspect a dwelling unit at a specified time to ensure compliance with applicable codes; amending s. 83.54, F.S.; requiring that certain records be removed from a tenant’s credit report under certain circumstances; amending s. 83.56, F.S.; revising and specifying grounds for termination of a rental agreement; requiring landlords to provide certain tenants a specified amount of time to vacate the premises before bringing a specified action; amending s. 83.60, F.S.; deleting a requirement that certain money be paid into the registry of the court; creating s. 83.626, F.S.; authorizing tenants, mobile home owners, mobile home tenants, and mobile home occupants who are defendants in certain eviction proceedings to file a motion with the court to have the records of such proceedings sealed and to have their names substituted on the progress docket under certain conditions; requiring the court to grant such motions without a hearing if certain requirements are met; authorizing that such relief be granted only once; requiring tenants, mobile home owners, mobile home tenants, or mobile home occupants to submit a specified sworn statement; requiring the court to substitute a defendant’s name on the progress docket under certain circumstances; prohibiting certain defendants from being eligible for such relief; providing for retroactive applicability; amending s. 83.63, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 83.67, F.S.; prohibiting a landlord from engaging in certain conduct; defining terms; creating s. 83.675, F.S.; defining terms; requiring a landlord to give tenants the opportunity to purchase the dwelling unit or premises under certain circumstances; providing requirements for an offer of sale; authorizing a tenant to challenge an offer of sale; creating s. 83.676, F.S.; defining terms; prohibiting a landlord from evicting a tenant or terminating a rental agreement because the tenant or the tenant’s minor child is a victim of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking; specifying that a rental agreement may not include certain provisions; authorizing a victim of such actual or threatened violence or stalking to terminate a rental agreement under certain circumstances; requiring that certain documentation and written notice be provided to the landlord; providing for liability for unpaid rent for the tenant and the perpetrator, if applicable; specifying that a tenant does not forfeit certain money paid to the landlord for terminating the rental agreement under certain circumstances; requiring a landlord to change the locks of the dwelling unit within a specified time period under certain circumstances; authorizing the tenant to change the locks under certain circumstances; prohibiting certain actions by a landlord under certain circumstances; authorizing the filing of a civil action and an award of damages, fees, and costs under certain circumstances; prohibiting the waiver or modification of certain provisions; creating s. 83.685, F.S.; prohibiting the purchase of single-family homes for a specified purpose in certain circumstances; authorizing civil investigations and actions; authorizing the award of certain relief; requiring joinder of certain parties in certain circumstances for specified purposes; providing for joint and several liability; providing construction; defining the terms “affiliate” and “person”; amending s. 163.31801, F.S.; authorizing local governments and special districts to adopt a specified impact fee; requiring that the revenue generated from such impact fee be used for a specified purpose; creating s. 166.0452, F.S.; defining terms; authorizing municipalities to create community land bank programs for a certain purpose; requiring certain municipalities annually to develop and adopt a community land bank plan; providing requirements for such plan; requiring a public hearing on the proposed plan before its adoption; requiring notice to certain entities; requiring that the proposed plan be made public within a certain timeframe before the public hearing; providing requirements for the sale of certain property to land banks; providing that such sale is for a public purpose; prohibiting certain persons from challenging the market value of property under certain circumstances; requiring that written notice of a sale of such property be provided to certain persons in a certain manner within a specified timeframe; authorizing the owner of certain property to contest the sale of such property and requiring that such property be sold in a different manner; specifying that the owner of certain property is not entitled to proceeds from the sale and is not liable for certain deficiencies; authorizing land banks to buy certain property for less than market value under certain circumstances; conveying the right, title, and interest in certain property to land banks; requiring land banks to offer qualified organizations a right of first refusal to purchase certain property; providing requirements for the right of first refusal; providing conditions for the subsequent resale of property acquired by land banks; requiring certain deed restrictions on certain property; providing requirements for such deed restrictions; authorizing the modification of or addition to deed restrictions; requiring land banks to maintain certain records; requiring land banks to file annual audited financial statements within a certain timeframe; requiring land banks to submit an annual performance report to a municipality by a certain date; providing requirements for such report; requiring that copies of such report be provided to certain entities and made available for public review; providing applicability; amending s. 196.061, F.S.; providing that rental of certain homestead property does not constitute abandonment in specified circumstances; creating s. 201.025, F.S.; providing the amount of documentary stamp tax imposed on purchases of certain property by certain entities; requiring revenue generated by such tax to be deposited into the Florida Affordable Housing Trust Fund; providing exceptions; creating s. 220.1851, F.S.; defining terms; authorizing a tax credit for certain projects; providing the maximum value of such credit; authorizing the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to allocate the tax credit among certain projects; authorizing that the tax credit be transferred by the recipient; requiring the Department of Revenue to adopt rules; creating s. 420.50931, F.S.; creating the retail-to-residence tax credit Program for a certain purpose; requiring the corporation to determine which projects are eligible for the tax credit; requiring the corporation to establish and adopt certain procedures and to prepare a specified annual plan; requiring that such plan be approved by the Governor; authorizing the corporation to exercise certain powers; requiring the board of directors of the corporation to administer certain procedures and determine allocations on behalf of the corporation; providing requirements for certain procedures; requiring taxpayers to submit an application with certain information to the corporation; authorizing the corporation to request additional information; providing requirements for the approval of an application for a project; creating s. 420.5098, F.S.; creating the Affordable Housing Construction Loan Program for a certain purpose; providing the corporation with certain powers and responsibilities relating to the program; providing requirements for the program; providing rulemaking authority; providing an effective date.

Tracie Davis (D)*, 

Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration (on 05/03/2025)

Official Document