Florida HB 241: Ethics for Public Officers and Employees of Special Tax Districts

Bill Text

HB 241 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb241-00
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A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to landlord obligations and 2
construction contracting; amending s. 83.51, F.S.; 3
providing definitions; requiring landlords to provide 4
and maintain specified cooling equipment for tenants; 5
requiring a landlord to repair or replace such cooling 6
equipment within a specified timeframe; providing 7
construction; providing exceptions; providing 8
applicability; amending s. 489.105, F.S.; revising the 9
definitions of the terms "class A air-conditioning 10
contractor" and "mechanical contractor" to include 11
additional services that such contractors may perform; 12
amending ss. 83.56 and 83.60, F.S.; conforming cross-13
references; providing an effective date. 14
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 16
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Section 1. Section 83.51, Florida Statutes, is amended to 18
read: 19
83.51 Landlord's obligation to maintain premises.— 20
(1) As used in this section, the term: 21
(a) "Cooling equipment" means a permanently installed or 22
securely affixed appliance designed to cool indoor air, 23
including central air systems, packaged terminal air 24
conditioners, and mini-split heat pumps. The term includes 25

HB 241 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb241-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

window air-conditioning units if permitted by applicable code. 26
(b) "Habitable room" means a space in a structure for 27
living, sleeping, eating, or cooking. The term does not include 28
bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, screen enclosures, 29
sunrooms, storage or utility spaces, or other similar spaces. 30
(c) "Outdoor heat index" means the apparent temperature 31
derived from ambient air temperature and relative humidity as 32
reported by the National Weather Service for the nearest 33
reporting station. 34
(d) "Smoke detection device" means an electrical or a 35
battery-operated device which detects visible or invisible 36
particles of combustion and which is listed by Underwriters 37
Laboratories, Inc., Factory Mutual Laboratories, Inc., or any 38
other nationally recognized testing laboratory using nationally 39
accepted testing standards. 40
(2)(1) The landlord at all times during the tenancy shall: 41
(a) Comply with the requirements of applicable building, 42
housing, and health codes; or 43
(b) Where there are no applicable building, housing, or 44
health codes, maintain the roofs, windows, doors, floors, steps, 45
porches, exterior walls, foundations, and all other structural 46
components in good repair and capable of resisting normal forces 47
and loads and the plumbing in reasonable working condition. The 48
landlord, at commencement of the tenancy, must ensure that 49
screens are installed in a reasonable condition. Thereafter, the 50

HB 241 2026

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landlord must repair damage to screens once annually, when 51
necessary, until termination of the rental agreement. 52
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The landlord is not required to maintain a mobile home or other 54
structure owned by the tenant. The landlord's obligations under 55
this subsection may be altered or modified in writing with 56
respect to a single-family home or duplex. 57
(3)(a)(2)(a) Unless otherwise agreed in writing, in 58
addition to the requirements of subsection (2) (1), the landlord 59
of a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex 60
shall, at all times during the tenancy, make reasonable 61
provisions for: 62
1. The extermination of rats, mice, roaches, ants, wood-63
destroying organisms, and bedbugs. If the tenant must vacate the 64
premises for such extermination, the landlord is not liable for 65
damages but must abate the rent. The landlord must provide 7 66
days' written notice, in person, by mail, or by e-mail in 67
accordance with s. 83.505, to the tenant if the tenant must 68
temporarily vacate the premises for extermination pursuant to 69
this subparagraph. A tenant is only required to vacate the 70
premises for a period of time not to exceed 4 days. 71
2. Locks and keys. 72
3. The clean and safe condition of common areas. 73
4. Garbage removal and outside receptacles therefor. 74
5. Functioning facilities for heat during winter, running 75

HB 241 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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water, and hot water. 76
6. Providing and maintaining cooling equipment capable of 77
maintaining an indoor air temperature in habitable rooms that 78
does not exceed 82 degrees Fahrenheit when the outdoor heat 79
index is or exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit. A landlord may use 80
any cooling