One bill creates harsher penalties for anyone unlawfully in a residential or commercial property who intentionally causes $1,000 in damage.
SARASOTA, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two anti-squatting bills into law during a press conference in Sarasota Monday morning.
The governor announced that the bills intend to tackle the issue of squatting in commercial properties, such as hotels and motels, and to make it easier for property owners to reclaim their premises when an unauthorized individual occupies them.
“Property rights are really important,” DeSantis emphasized during Monday’s press conference. “If you don’t have private property rights, you cannot have a free society.”
In the previous year, DeSantis enacted Florida House Bill 621 to address squatting in residential properties and significantly expedite the removal of squatters by law enforcement. The governor stated that the new laws will now apply the measures for residential properties to commercial ones as well.
Senate Bill 322 will allow commercial property owners to request that a county sheriff immediately remove individuals unlawfully occupying a property if specified conditions are met. One condition includes that property owners submit a completed and verified complaint to the county sheriff before anyone is removed.
SB 322 will also create harsher penalties for individuals unlawfully occupying a commercial property.
The bill text states that it will be considered a second-degree felony for any person unlawfully in a residential or commercial property who intentionally damages the property, causing $1,000 in damage.
“Under current law, the remedies to remove unauthorized applicants or occupants of a commercial property can unfortunately be lengthy and time-consuming, which then incentivizes people to take advantage of the situation,” DeSantis said. “And we’re not going to allow that to happen. We’re not going to create those perverse incentives.”
Additionally, the governor signed Senate Bill 606 into law, which he says will strengthen the rights of hotel and motel owners when dealing with guests deemed uncooperative or not paying their bills.
The governor said the bill also prevents hotel guests who are not paying their bills from claiming residency, which could force hotel and motel owners to go through a traditional eviction process for permanent housing.
“If you stop paying your rent inside some apartment, or didn’t fulfill the obligations of your lease staying at a hotel, you’re there, you’re either paying or you’re not, and if you’re not, it shouldn’t devolve into some major landlord-tenant dispute,” DeSantis said. “The person should just be escorted off the property and leave.”
The laws will go into effect July 1, 2025.
