FloridaFlorida law sets rules for returning unclaimed property to owners
Businesses must try to reach owners before reporting abandoned property, while people buying state-held property get 15 business days to cancel.
What it does
Holders must try to contact owners before reporting property to the state. Owners can search the state’s website and file a claim to recover property.
Buyers must use a written, notarized agreement that explains the property and price. Sellers can cancel within 15 business days, and buyers must prove payment before the state approves a claim.
Some applicants with serious criminal records cannot get a license, while others must wait before applying. A pardon removes that bar or wait, but the board may still deny a license.
Argument forOwners may have more chances to find and reclaim forgotten property because holders must try to contact them and the state keeps a searchable website.
Argument againstThe notice rules could take time and money for businesses that hold property, especially when they must send certified mail.
More detail
The law describes when holders report property to the state and how owners can claim it. These rules cover businesses and other holders of property that may belong to someone else, and people seeking to recover that property. Property is treated as abandoned for reporting only after the holder completes required efforts to contact the apparent owner and gets no response showing continued interest. For property worth $50 or more, holders must try to notify the owner; property worth more than $1,000 requires a second notice by certified mail if the holder has a usable mailing address. The first notice must be sent 90 to 180 days before the report. If property is worth more than $1,000, the second notice must be sent at least 60 days before the report.
The law sets requirements for agreements to buy property held by the state as abandoned. These rules apply when someone buys abandoned property already reported to the state. The written agreement must identify the property and price, be signed by the seller and notarized, and limit the discount to 30 percent. The seller can cancel without penalty within 15 business days. The buyer must file the agreement and proof of full payment with the claim. The cancellation period lasts 15 business days after the agreement is signed.
The law sets criminal-history bars and waiting periods for some funeral and cemetery license applicants. These rules cover individuals and certain people who manage or control an entity applying for a funeral, cemetery, or related license. Some serious felonies permanently bar an applicant; other felonies generally require a 10-year wait, and certain misdemeanors require a 5-year wait. After a waiting period, applicants must show rehabilitation and fitness. A pardon or restored civil rights removes the bar or wait, but does not require the board to grant a license. The waiting periods do not apply to renewal or a new application by someone who had an active license on July 1, 2026, if the board already considered the relevant criminal history. Waiting periods begin after the applicant’s final release from supervision or completion of the criminal sentence. The stated exception applies to people already actively licensed on July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 29Chapter No. 2026-174, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 1311 (Ch. 2026-132)Latest
- Jun 26Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Jun 15Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12Ordered engrossed, then enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Returning Messages. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 12CS passed as amended; YEAS 39 NAYS 0Major
- Mar 12Concurred in 1 amendment(s) (573943)
- Mar 11In returning messages
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11CS passed as amended; YEAS 109, NAYS 0Passed House
- Mar 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 11Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Mar 11Amendment 573943 adopted
- Mar 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 101st Reading (Engrossed 1)Minor
- Mar 10Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/11/2026)
- Mar 10Bill referred to House Calendar
- Mar 9In Messages
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 9Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 9Amendment(s) adopted (344910, 347422, 712002)
- Mar 9Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 6Retained on Special Order Calendar
- Mar 5CS/CS/CS by Rules read 1st time
- Mar 5Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/06/26
- Mar 5Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 5Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
- Mar 3CS/CS/CS by- Rules; YEAS 22 NAYS 0
- Vote recorded Favorable with Committee Substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government read 1st time
- Feb 26On Committee agenda-- Rules, 03/03/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
- Feb 26Now in Rules
- Feb 26Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
- Feb 25CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
- Vote recorded Favorable with Committee Substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 20On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government, 02/25/26, 1:30 pm, 412 Knott Building
- Feb 10CS by Banking and Insurance read 1st time
- Feb 9Now in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government
- Feb 6Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
- Feb 4CS by Banking and Insurance; YEAS 10 NAYS 0
- Vote recorded Favorable with Committee Substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 30On Committee agenda-- Banking and Insurance, 02/04/26, 10:30 am, 412 Knott Building
- Jan 22IntroducedMinor
- Jan 16Referred to Banking and Insurance; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; RulesMinor
- Jan 8FiledIntroduced
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