Bill > S1224

This bill establishes the crime of fraudulent entry of a residential dwelling unit, making it a third-degree felony punishable by law, and defines this offense as a serious violation for which a landlord can terminate a rental agreement. Specifically, the bill amends existing Florida Statutes to include fraudulent entry as a non-curable act of noncompliance, meaning a tenant cannot fix it to avoid eviction, and creates a new section that prohibits individuals from knowingly and willfully entering and taking possession of a residential dwelling unit by making false statements on rental applications, presenting forged documents like fake IDs or paystubs, or impersonating someone else to secure a rental agreement or occupancy. The terms "dwelling unit," "landlord," and "rental agreement" are defined by referencing existing statutes related to landlord-tenant law, and the act is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Justice

Criminal Justice (Senate), Judiciary (Senate)

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1224