Governor Ron DeSantis today signed HB 869 into law, which provides sweeping updates that allow the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to streamline processes for Florida’s valuable licensed professionals and businesses.
“With the Governor’s leadership and the investment of the Florida Legislature, Florida’s business and professional community will continue to grow and thrive in the Free State of Florida,” said DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin. “These important updates will enable DBPR to better serve our more than 1.6 million licensees.”
HB 869, DBPR’s agency bill, allows enhancements to operational efficiencies, clarifies regulatory requirements and improves licensure and renewal options for agency stakeholders throughout the state. Updates include:
Licensing
- Qualified, eligible professionals who have held a valid mold-related or asbestos license from another state or territory may obtain their professional license in Florida by endorsement.
- The application deadline under the state’s grandfathering provision has been eliminated for eligible locally registered electrical, alarm system and specialty contractors seeking to obtain licensure as statewide certified contractors.
- Package stores licensed to sell beer, wine and liquor for consumption off the premises will now be able to sell nicotine products.
- All restaurant and lodging establishment licensees must now provide an email address to the DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants to serve as the primary point of contact for matters related to their license.
- DBPR may now issue a hardship exemption to allow applicants and licensees to opt-out of the online account requirement.
- Transient lodging establishments are undergoing modernizations by allowing guests to register electronically and eliminating requirements for individual guest signatures.
Florida Building Code
- If energy code compliance software is not approved by the Florida Building Commission at least three months before the updated Building Code’s effective date, the Building Commission may delay the effective date of the energy provisions of the Building Code for up to three additional months.
Florida Vacation Plan and Timesharing Act
- Certain requirements for the offering of incidental benefits in the sale of a timeshare plan have been eliminated.
- The period for voiding a contract for which the closing unlawfully occurred before the cancellation period’s expiration is now extended from one year to five years, and retains the one-year right for a purchaser to void a contract if he or she knowingly or unknowingly waived their right to cancel the contract within the 10-day cancellation period.
- The public offering statement has been revised to allow the developer’s description of each component site for a multisite timeshare plan to be provided to the purchaser electronically.
Florida Athletic Commission
- Participants in exhibition matches are no longer subject to the maximum participant weight differential requirement for all exhibition matches, allowing any exhibition to include participants that weigh more or less than 12 pounds from their opponent.
For more information, view the bill summary highlights or the full bill text.
