Florida Senate - 2025 SB By Senator Smith 17-00447A-25 20251562__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled

An act relating to security deposits; amending s. 2 83.49, F.S.; prohibiting a security deposit paid in connection with a residential tenancy which is collected before occupancy from exceeding the equivalent of month’s rent; prohibiting such security deposit that is paid during the term of the lease from exceeding a specified percentage of the equivalent of month’s rent; providing that payment of such deposit may be made over a specified number of months; providing an effective date. 11

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13

Section 1. Subsection (10) is added to

section 83.49, 15 Florida Statutes, to read: 16 83.49 Deposit money or advance rent; duty of landlord and tenant.— 18

(10) A security deposit collected before occupancy may not exceed the equivalent of month’s rent. A security deposit paid during the term of the lease may be paid over months, and each payment may not exceed 8.75 percent of the equivalent of 1 month’s rent. 23

Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 24