FloridaFlorida law makes identity fraud to take rental homes a felony
Effective October 1, 2026, Florida law makes certain deliberate identity fraud used to take a rental home a felony and lets landlords end the rental agreement with written notice.
What it does
Knowingly and willfully taking possession of a rental home through a false identity statement, fake documents, or impersonation is a third-degree felony.
A landlord may end the rental agreement for fraudulent entry, even if no criminal case has started; the tenant then has seven days after written notice to leave.
Argument forMaking deliberate identity fraud used to take a rental home a felony could discourage people from using fake documents or another person’s identity.
Argument againstA tenant who used false information to get a home could lose the rental and have only seven days after notice to leave, even without a criminal case.
More detail
Knowingly and willfully taking possession of a rental home through specified identity fraud is a third-degree felony. This applies when a person enters and takes possession of a residential rental home. The person must knowingly and willfully make a materially false written statement about their identity on a rental application, give the landlord forged or fake documents, or impersonate the person named on the application.
A landlord may end the rental agreement for fraudulent entry and give the tenant written notice to leave. This applies when the tenant’s fraudulent entry violates the law’s identity fraud rules. The notice may be given whether or not criminal proceedings have started. The tenant has seven days from delivery of the notice to leave.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 12Chapter No. 2026-143Latest
- Jun 12Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Jun 9Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 6Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6In Messages
- Mar 6CS passed; YEAS 34 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 6Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 6Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 6Substituted for CS/CS/SB 1224
- Mar 6Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 6Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Feb 18ReceivedMinor
- Feb 12Referred to RulesMinor
- Feb 12In Messages
- Feb 11CS passed; YEAS 110, NAYS 0Passed House
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 11Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Feb 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 5Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/11/2026)
- Feb 3Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (Judiciary Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 3Reported out of Judiciary Committee
- Feb 3Favorable by Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Jan 30Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
- Jan 29Now in Judiciary Committee
- Jan 29Referred to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Jan 281st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Vote recorded Favorable With Committee Substitute (Criminal Justice Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28CS FiledMinor
- Jan 28Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Jan 28Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee
- Jan 28Favorable with CS by Criminal Justice SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 26Added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 15Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
- Jan 15Referred to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Jan 15Referred to Justice Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 15Referred to Criminal Justice SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Jan 8FiledIntroduced
Criminal JusticeHousing