Florida Senate - 2025                                     SB 606
       
       
        
       By Senator Leek
       
       
       
       
       
       7-00637-25                                             2025606__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to public lodging and food service
    3         establishments; amending s. 509.013, F.S.; revising
    4         definitions; amending s. 509.141, F.S.; revising the
    5         instances under which the operator of any public
    6         lodging establishment may remove a guest; providing
    7         requirements for the notice an operator of a public
    8         lodging establishment or public food service
    9         establishment may give to a guest under specified
   10         circumstances; making technical changes; requiring a
   11         law enforcement officer to remove a guest who remains
   12         on the premises of any public lodging establishment
   13         after an operator makes a specified request;
   14         authorizing a law enforcement officer to arrest and
   15         take into custody any guest under certain
   16         circumstances; reenacting ss. 196.1978(3)(k),
   17         196.199(1)(a), 212.031(1)(a), 404.056(5),
   18         413.08(1)(c), 480.043(14)(b), (c), and (e), and
   19         559.955(5)(b), F.S., relating to affordable housing
   20         property exemption; government property exemption;
   21         taxes and fees for use of real property; environmental
   22         radiation standards and testing, and notification on
   23         real estate documents; rights and responsibilities of
   24         an individual with a disability, and penalties;
   25         massage establishments, requisites, licensure
   26         inspection, and human trafficking awareness training
   27         and policies; and home-based businesses, local
   28         government, and restrictions, respectively, to
   29         incorporate the amendment made to s. 509.013, F.S., in
   30         references thereto; reenacting s. 721.13(14), F.S.,
   31         relating to management, to incorporate the amendment
   32         made to s. 509.141, F.S., in a reference thereto;
   33         providing an effective date.
   34          
   35  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   36  
   37         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) and subsections
   38  (11), (12), (14), and (15) of section 509.013, Florida Statutes,
   39  are amended to read:
   40         509.013 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
   41         (4)(a) “Public lodging establishment” includes a transient
   42  public lodging establishment as defined in subparagraph 1. and a
   43  nontransient public lodging establishment as defined in
   44  subparagraph 2.
   45         1. “Transient public lodging establishment” means any unit,
   46  group of units, dwelling, building, or group of buildings within
   47  a single complex of buildings which is rented to guests more
   48  than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30
   49  consecutive days or 1 calendar month, whichever is less, or
   50  which is advertised or held out to the public as a place
   51  regularly rented to guests for periods of less than 30
   52  consecutive days.
   53         2. “Nontransient public lodging establishment” means any
   54  unit, group of units, dwelling, building, or group of buildings
   55  within a single complex of buildings which is rented to guests
   56  for periods of at least 30 consecutive days or 1 calendar month,
   57  whichever is less, or which is advertised or held out to the
   58  public as a place regularly rented to guests for periods of at
   59  least 30 consecutive days or 1 calendar month.
   60  
   61  License classifications of public lodging establishments, and
   62  the definitions therefor, are set out in s. 509.242. For the
   63  purpose of licensure, the term does not include condominium
   64  common elements as defined in s. 718.103.
   65         (11) “Transient establishment” means any public lodging
   66  establishment that is rented or leased to guests by an operator
   67  for transient whose intention is that such guests’ occupancy
   68  will be temporary.
   69         (12) “Transient occupancy” means occupancy that is when it
   70  is the intention of the parties that the occupancy will be
   71  temporary. A guest’s occupancy of a dwelling unit at a hotel,
   72  motel, vacation rental, bed and breakfast inn, or timeshare
   73  project as defined in s. 509.242 is transient unless a written
   74  rental or leasing agreement expressly states that the unit may
   75  be the guest’s There is a rebuttable presumption that, when the
   76  dwelling unit occupied is not the sole residence of the guest,
   77  the occupancy is transient.
   78         (14) “Nontransient establishment” means any public lodging
   79  establishment that is rented or leased to guests by an operator
   80  for nontransient occupancy whose intention is that the dwelling
   81  unit occupied will be the sole residence of the guest.
   82         (15) “Nontransient occupancy” means occupancy that is not
   83  when it is the intention of the parties that the occupancy will
   84  not be temporary. A guest’s occupancy of a dwelling unit at a
   85  hotel, motel, vacation rental, bed and breakfast inn, or
   86  timeshare project as defined in s. 509.242 is transient unless a
   87  written rental or leasing agreement expressly states the unit
   88  may be the guest’s There is a rebuttable presumption that, when
   89  the dwelling unit occupied is the sole residence of the guest,
   90  the occupancy is nontransient.
   91         Section 2. Section 509.141, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   92  read:
   93         509.141 Refusal of admission and ejection of undesirable
   94  guests; notice; procedure; penalties for refusal to leave.—
   95         (1) The operator of any public lodging establishment or
   96  public food service establishment may remove or cause to be
   97  removed from such establishment, in the manner hereinafter
   98  provided, any guest of the establishment who, while on the
   99  premises of the establishment, illegally possesses or deals in
  100  controlled substances as defined in chapter 893 or is
  101  intoxicated, profane, lewd, or brawling; who indulges in any
  102  language or conduct which disturbs the peace and comfort of
  103  other guests or which injures the reputation, dignity, or
  104  standing of the establishment; who, in the case of a public
  105  lodging establishment, fails to make payment of rent at the
  106  agreed-upon rental rate by the agreed-upon checkout time
  107  specified by the public lodging establishment; who, in the case
  108  of a public lodging establishment, fails to check out by the
  109  time specified agreed upon in writing by the guest and public
  110  lodging establishment at check-in unless an extension of time is
  111  agreed to by the public lodging establishment and guest prior to
  112  checkout; who, in the case of a public food service
  113  establishment, fails to make payment for food, beverages, or
  114  services; or who, in the opinion of the operator, is a person
  115  the continued entertainment of whom would be detrimental to such
  116  establishment. The admission to, or the removal from, such
  117  establishment shall not be based upon race, creed, color, sex,
  118  physical disability, or national origin.
  119         (2) The operator of any public lodging establishment or
  120  public food service establishment shall notify such guest that
  121  the establishment no longer desires to entertain the guest and
  122  shall request that such guest immediately depart from the
  123  establishment. Such notice may be given orally or in writing.
  124  The notice is effective upon the operator’s delivery of the
  125  notice, whether in person, via a telephonic or electronic
  126  communications medium using the contact information provided by
  127  the guest, or, with respect to a public lodging establishment,
  128  upon delivery to the guest’s lodging unit. If the notice is in
  129  writing, it shall be as follows:
  130  
  131         “You are hereby notified that this establishment no longer
  132  desires to entertain you as its guest, and you are requested to
  133  leave at once. To remain after receipt of this notice is a
  134  misdemeanor under the laws of this state.”
  135  
  136  If such guest has paid in advance, the establishment shall, at
  137  the time such notice is given, tender to such guest the unused
  138  portion of the advance payment; however, the establishment may
  139  withhold payment for each full day that the guest has been
  140  entertained at the establishment for any portion of the 24-hour
  141  period of such day.
  142         (3) Any guest who remains or attempts to remain in any such
  143  establishment after the operator’s request to depart pursuant to
  144  subsection (2) being requested to leave is guilty of a
  145  misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
  146  775.082 or s. 775.083.
  147         (4) If any guest remains person is illegally on the
  148  premises of any public lodging establishment or public food
  149  service establishment after the operator’s request to depart
  150  pursuant to subsection (2), the operator of such establishment
  151  may call upon any law enforcement officer of this state for
  152  assistance. It is the duty of such law enforcement officer, upon
  153  the request of such operator, to remove place under arrest and
  154  take into custody for violation of this section any guest who
  155  remains on the premises of such an establishment after the
  156  operator’s request to depart pursuant to subsection (2).
  157         (5)A law enforcement officer may place under arrest and
  158  take into custody any guest who violates subsection (3) in the
  159  presence of the officer. If a warrant has been issued by the
  160  proper judicial officer for the arrest of any violator of
  161  subsection (3), the officer shall serve the warrant, arrest the
  162  person, and take the person into custody. Upon arrest, with or
  163  without warrant, the guest will be deemed to have given up any
  164  right to occupancy or to have abandoned such right of occupancy
  165  of the premises, and the operator of the establishment may then
  166  make such premises available to other guests. However, the
  167  operator of the establishment shall employ all reasonable and
  168  proper means to care for any personal property which may be left
  169  on the premises by such guest and shall refund any unused
  170  portion of moneys paid by such guest for the occupancy of such
  171  premises.
  172         Section 3. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  173  made by this act to section 509.013, Florida Statutes, in a
  174  reference thereto, paragraph (k) of subsection (3) of section
  175  196.1978, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
  176         196.1978 Affordable housing property exemption.—
  177         (3)
  178         (k) Property receiving an exemption pursuant to s. 196.1979
  179  or units used as a transient public lodging establishment as
  180  defined in s. 509.013 are not eligible for this exemption.
  181         Section 4. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  182  made by this act to section 509.013, Florida Statutes, in a
  183  reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
  184  196.199, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
  185         196.199 Government property exemption.—
  186         (1) Property owned and used by the following governmental
  187  units shall be exempt from taxation under the following
  188  conditions:
  189         (a)1. All property of the United States is exempt from ad
  190  valorem taxation, except such property as is subject to tax by
  191  this state or any political subdivision thereof or any
  192  municipality under any law of the United States.
  193         2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes
  194  of the exemption from ad valorem taxation provided in
  195  subparagraph 1., property of the United States includes any
  196  leasehold interest of and improvements affixed to land owned by
  197  the United States, any branch of the United States Armed Forces,
  198  or any agency or quasi-governmental agency of the United States
  199  if the leasehold interest and improvements are acquired or
  200  constructed and used pursuant to the federal Military Housing
  201  Privatization Initiative of 1996, 10 U.S.C. ss. 2871 et seq. As
  202  used in this subparagraph, the term “improvements” includes
  203  actual housing units and any facilities that are directly
  204  related to such housing units, including any housing maintenance
  205  facilities, housing rental and management offices, parks and
  206  community centers, and recreational facilities. Any leasehold
  207  interest and improvements described in this subparagraph,
  208  regardless of whether title is held by the United States, shall
  209  be construed as being owned by the United States, the applicable
  210  branch of the United States Armed Forces, or the applicable
  211  agency or quasi-governmental agency of the United States and are
  212  exempt from ad valorem taxation without the necessity of an
  213  application for exemption being filed or approved by the
  214  property appraiser. This subparagraph does not apply to a
  215  transient public lodging establishment as defined in s. 509.013
  216  and does not affect any existing agreement to provide municipal
  217  services by a municipality or county.
  218         Section 5. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  219  made by this act to section 509.013, Florida Statutes, in a
  220  reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
  221  212.031, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
  222         212.031 Tax on rental or license fee for use of real
  223  property.—
  224         (1)(a) It is declared to be the legislative intent that
  225  every person is exercising a taxable privilege who engages in
  226  the business of renting, leasing, letting, or granting a license
  227  for the use of any real property unless such property is:
  228         1. Assessed as agricultural property under s. 193.461.
  229         2. Used exclusively as dwelling units.
  230         3. Property subject to tax on parking, docking, or storage
  231  spaces under s. 212.03(6).
  232         4. Recreational property or the common elements of a
  233  condominium when subject to a lease between the developer or
  234  owner thereof and the condominium association in its own right
  235  or as agent for the owners of individual condominium units or
  236  the owners of individual condominium units. However, only the
  237  lease payments on such property shall be exempt from the tax
  238  imposed by this chapter, and any other use made by the owner or
  239  the condominium association shall be fully taxable under this
  240  chapter.
  241         5. A public or private street or right-of-way and poles,
  242  conduits, fixtures, and similar improvements located on such
  243  streets or rights-of-way, occupied or used by a utility or
  244  provider of communications services, as defined by s. 202.11,
  245  for utility or communications or television purposes. For
  246  purposes of this subparagraph, the term “utility” means any
  247  person providing utility services as defined in s. 203.012. This
  248  exception also applies to property, wherever located, on which
  249  the following are placed: towers, antennas, cables, accessory
  250  structures, or equipment, not including switching equipment,
  251  used in the provision of mobile communications services as
  252  defined in s. 202.11. For purposes of this chapter, towers used
  253  in the provision of mobile communications services, as defined
  254  in s. 202.11, are considered to be fixtures.
  255         6. A public street or road which is used for transportation
  256  purposes.
  257         7. Property used at an airport exclusively for the purpose
  258  of aircraft landing or aircraft taxiing or property used by an
  259  airline for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or
  260  property onto or from aircraft or for fueling aircraft.
  261         8.a. Property used at a port authority, as defined in s.
  262  315.02(2), exclusively for the purpose of oceangoing vessels or
  263  tugs docking, or such vessels mooring on property used by a port
  264  authority for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or
  265  cargo onto or from such a vessel, or property used at a port
  266  authority for fueling such vessels, or to the extent that the
  267  amount paid for the use of any property at the port is based on
  268  the charge for the amount of tonnage actually imported or
  269  exported through the port by a tenant.
  270         b. The amount charged for the use of any property at the
  271  port in excess of the amount charged for tonnage actually
  272  imported or exported shall remain subject to tax except as
  273  provided in sub-subparagraph a.
  274         9. Property used as an integral part of the performance of
  275  qualified production services. As used in this subparagraph, the
  276  term “qualified production services” means any activity or
  277  service performed directly in connection with the production of
  278  a qualified motion picture, as defined in s. 212.06(1)(b), and
  279  includes:
  280         a. Photography, sound and recording, casting, location
  281  managing and scouting, shooting, creation of special and optical
  282  effects, animation, adaptation (language, media, electronic, or
  283  otherwise), technological modifications, computer graphics, set
  284  and stage support (such as electricians, lighting designers and
  285  operators, greensmen, prop managers and assistants, and grips),
  286  wardrobe (design, preparation, and management), hair and makeup
  287  (design, production, and application), performing (such as
  288  acting, dancing, and playing), designing and executing stunts,
  289  coaching, consulting, writing, scoring, composing,
  290  choreographing, script supervising, directing, producing,
  291  transmitting dailies, dubbing, mixing, editing, cutting,
  292  looping, printing, processing, duplicating, storing, and
  293  distributing;
  294         b. The design, planning, engineering, construction,
  295  alteration, repair, and maintenance of real or personal property
  296  including stages, sets, props, models, paintings, and facilities
  297  principally required for the performance of those services
  298  listed in sub-subparagraph a.; and
  299         c. Property management services directly related to
  300  property used in connection with the services described in sub
  301  subparagraphs a. and b.
  302  
  303  This exemption will inure to the taxpayer upon presentation of
  304  the certificate of exemption issued to the taxpayer under the
  305  provisions of s. 288.1258.
  306         10. Leased, subleased, licensed, or rented to a person
  307  providing food and drink concessionaire services within the
  308  premises of a convention hall, exhibition hall, auditorium,
  309  stadium, theater, arena, civic center, performing arts center,
  310  publicly owned recreational facility, or any business operated
  311  under a permit issued pursuant to chapter 550. A person
  312  providing retail concessionaire services involving the sale of
  313  food and drink or other tangible personal property within the
  314  premises of an airport shall be subject to tax on the rental of
  315  real property used for that purpose, but shall not be subject to
  316  the tax on any license to use the property. For purposes of this
  317  subparagraph, the term “sale” shall not include the leasing of
  318  tangible personal property.
  319         11. Property occupied pursuant to an instrument calling for
  320  payments which the department has declared, in a Technical
  321  Assistance Advisement issued on or before March 15, 1993, to be
  322  nontaxable pursuant to rule 12A-1.070(19)(c), Florida
  323  Administrative Code; provided that this subparagraph shall only
  324  apply to property occupied by the same person before and after
  325  the execution of the subject instrument and only to those
  326  payments made pursuant to such instrument, exclusive of renewals
  327  and extensions thereof occurring after March 15, 1993.
  328         12. Property used or occupied predominantly for space
  329  flight business purposes. As used in this subparagraph, “space
  330  flight business” means the manufacturing, processing, or
  331  assembly of a space facility, space propulsion system, space
  332  vehicle, satellite, or station of any kind possessing the
  333  capacity for space flight, as defined by s. 212.02(23), or
  334  components thereof, and also means the following activities
  335  supporting space flight: vehicle launch activities, flight
  336  operations, ground control or ground support, and all
  337  administrative activities directly related thereto. Property
  338  shall be deemed to be used or occupied predominantly for space
  339  flight business purposes if more than 50 percent of the
  340  property, or improvements thereon, is used for one or more space
  341  flight business purposes. Possession by a landlord, lessor, or
  342  licensor of a signed written statement from the tenant, lessee,
  343  or licensee claiming the exemption shall relieve the landlord,
  344  lessor, or licensor from the responsibility of collecting the
  345  tax, and the department shall look solely to the tenant, lessee,
  346  or licensee for recovery of such tax if it determines that the
  347  exemption was not applicable.
  348         13. Rented, leased, subleased, or licensed to a person
  349  providing telecommunications, data systems management, or
  350  Internet services at a publicly or privately owned convention
  351  hall, civic center, or meeting space at a public lodging
  352  establishment as defined in s. 509.013. This subparagraph
  353  applies only to that portion of the rental, lease, or license
  354  payment that is based upon a percentage of sales, revenue
  355  sharing, or royalty payments and not based upon a fixed price.
  356  This subparagraph is intended to be clarifying and remedial in
  357  nature and shall apply retroactively. This subparagraph does not
  358  provide a basis for an assessment of any tax not paid, or create
  359  a right to a refund of any tax paid, pursuant to this section
  360  before July 1, 2010.
  361         Section 6. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  362  made by this act to section 509.013, Florida Statutes, in a
  363  reference thereto, subsection (5) of section 404.056, Florida
  364  Statutes, is reenacted to read:
  365         404.056 Environmental radiation standards and projects;
  366  certification of persons performing measurement or mitigation
  367  services; mandatory testing; notification on real estate
  368  documents; rules.—
  369         (5) NOTIFICATION ON REAL ESTATE DOCUMENTS.—Notification
  370  shall be provided on at least one document, form, or application
  371  executed at the time of, or prior to, contract for sale and
  372  purchase of any building or execution of a rental agreement for
  373  any building. Such notification shall contain the following
  374  language:
  375  
  376         “RADON GAS: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas
  377  that, when it has accumulated in a building in sufficient
  378  quantities, may present health risks to persons who are exposed
  379  to it over time. Levels of radon that exceed federal and state
  380  guidelines have been found in buildings in Florida. Additional
  381  information regarding radon and radon testing may be obtained
  382  from your county health department.”
  383  
  384  The requirements of this subsection do not apply to any
  385  residential transient occupancy, as described in s. 509.013(12),
  386  provided that such occupancy is 45 days or less in duration.
  387         Section 7. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  388  made by this act to section 509.013, Florida Statutes, in a
  389  reference thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
  390  413.08, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
  391         413.08 Rights and responsibilities of an individual with a
  392  disability; use of a service animal; prohibited discrimination
  393  in public employment, public accommodations, and housing
  394  accommodations; penalties.—
  395         (1) As used in this section and s. 413.081, the term:
  396         (c) “Public accommodation” means a common carrier,
  397  airplane, motor vehicle, railroad train, motor bus, streetcar,
  398  boat, or other public conveyance or mode of transportation;
  399  hotel; a timeshare that is a transient public lodging
  400  establishment as defined in s. 509.013; lodging place; place of
  401  public accommodation, amusement, or resort; and other places to
  402  which the general public is invited, subject only to the
  403  conditions and limitations established by law and applicable
  404  alike to all persons. The term does not include air carriers
  405  covered by the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986, 49 U.S.C. s.
  406  41705, and by regulations adopted by the United States
  407  Department of Transportation to implement such act.
  408         Section 8. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  409  made by this act to section 509.013, Florida Statutes, in
  410  references thereto, paragraphs (b), (c), and (e) of subsection
  411  (14) of section 480.043, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to
  412  read:
  413         480.043 Massage establishments; requisites; licensure;
  414  inspection; human trafficking awareness training and policies.—
  415         (14) In order to provide the department and law enforcement
  416  agencies the means to more effectively identify persons engaging
  417  in human trafficking at massage establishments, the following
  418  apply:
  419         (b) If there is an outside window or windows into the
  420  massage establishment’s reception area, the outside window or
  421  windows must allow for at least 35 percent light penetration and
  422  no more than 50 percent of the outside window or windows may be
  423  obstructed with signage, blinds, curtains, or other
  424  obstructions, allowing the public to see the establishment’s
  425  reception area. A sign must be posted on the front window of the
  426  establishment that includes the name and license number of the
  427  massage establishment and the telephone number that has been
  428  provided to the department as part of licensure of the
  429  establishment. This paragraph does not apply to:
  430         1. A massage establishment within a public lodging
  431  establishment as defined in s. 509.013(4).
  432         2. A massage establishment located within a county or
  433  municipality that has an ordinance that prescribes requirements
  434  related to business window light penetration or signage
  435  limitations if compliance with this paragraph would result in
  436  noncompliance with such ordinance.
  437         (c) All employees within the massage establishment must be
  438  fully clothed, and such clothing must be fully opaque and made
  439  of nontransparent material that does not expose the employee’s
  440  genitalia. This requirement does not apply to an employee,
  441  excluding a massage therapist, of a public lodging
  442  establishment, as defined in s. 509.013(4), that is licensed as
  443  a clothing-optional establishment and chartered with the
  444  American Association for Nude Recreation.
  445         (e) A massage establishment must conspicuously display a 2
  446  inch by 2 inch photo for each employee, which, for massage
  447  therapists, must be attached to the massage therapist’s license.
  448  Such display must also include the employee’s full legal name
  449  and employment position. All information required under this
  450  paragraph must be displayed before the employee may provide any
  451  service or treatment to a client or patient. A massage
  452  establishment within a public lodging establishment as defined
  453  in s. 509.013(4) may satisfy this requirement by displaying the
  454  photos and required information in an employee break room or
  455  other room that is used by employees, but is not used by clients
  456  or patients.
  457         Section 9. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  458  made by this act to section 509.013, Florida Statutes, in a
  459  reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
  460  559.955, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
  461         559.955 Home-based businesses; local government
  462  restrictions.—
  463         (5) The application of this section does not supersede:
  464         (b) Local laws, ordinances, or regulations related to
  465  transient public lodging establishments, as defined in s.
  466  509.013(4)(a)1., that are not otherwise preempted under chapter
  467  509.
  468         Section 10. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  469  made by this act to section 509.141, Florida Statutes, in a
  470  reference thereto, subsection (14) of section 721.13, Florida
  471  Statutes, is reenacted to read:
  472         721.13 Management.—
  473         (14) With regard to any timeshare project as defined in s.
  474  509.242(1)(g), the managing entity or manager has all of the
  475  rights and remedies of an operator of any public lodging
  476  establishment or public food service establishment as set forth
  477  in ss. 509.141-509.143, and 509.162 and is entitled to have a
  478  law enforcement officer take any action, including arrest or
  479  removal from the timeshare property, against any purchaser,
  480  including a deeded owner, or guest or invitee of such purchaser
  481  or owner who engages in conduct described in s. 509.141, s.
  482  509.142, s. 509.143, or s. 509.162 or conduct in violation of
  483  the timeshare instrument.
  484         Section 11. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.