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FL H0619

Bill

Status

Failed

6/16/2025

Primary Sponsor

Johanna Lopez

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2025 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Creates s. 83.676, F.S., allowing tenants who are victims (or whose minor children are victims) of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking to terminate a rental agreement immediately and without penalty by providing written notice and supporting documentation such as a protection injunction, court order, law enforcement report, or verification from a certified domestic violence or rape crisis center.
  • Prohibits landlords from evicting a tenant or terminating a rental agreement because of a violence or stalking incident where the tenant or tenant's minor child is the victim, and voids any lease provision treating such early termination as a breach of the agreement.
  • Requires landlords to change the locks on a victim's dwelling unit within 24 hours of a written request with supporting documentation; if the landlord fails to do so, the tenant may change the locks independently, provided the landlord is notified and given a key.
  • Prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to or retaliating against tenants or prospective tenants based on their status as victims or their prior early termination of a lease due to violence or stalking, and requires all victim-related information provided to landlords to be kept confidential.
  • Establishes a civil cause of action against landlords who violate the confidentiality or anti-discrimination provisions, with liability of $1,000 in punitive damages plus actual and consequential damages, court costs, and attorney fees; provisions may not be waived by a rental agreement. Effective July 1, 2025.

Legislative Description

Termination of Rental Agreement by Victim of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Violence, or Stalking

Last Action

Died in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee

6/16/2025

Committee Referrals

Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee2/26/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available