Realtor Advocacy Triumphs During 2026 Session

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida lawmakers adjourned the 2026 legislative session Friday without approving a state budget, setting the stage for a special session to finalize spending for the upcoming fiscal year.

Despite the unresolved budget, Florida Realtors® leaders say the organization secured several legislative wins and blocked proposals they believed could harm consumers and the real estate profession.

“Every session is different, with some presenting ample opportunity for new initiatives, and others requiring a focused defensive effort to protect the industry from legislation that includes unintended consequences,” 2026 Florida Realtors President Chuck Bonfiglio, broker-owner of AAA Realty Group in Plantation, said. “The 2026 legislative session falls in the latter.”

Read 2026 Florida Realtors Legislative Highlights 

Among the biggest efforts was stopping HB 607, which would have eliminated the Florida Real Estate Commission and Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board and replaced post-licensure and continuing education requirements with an email from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation summarizing the year’s legislative changes. Florida Realtors successfully opposed the measure, arguing it would weaken consumer protections and reduce the value of a real estate license.

Lawmakers did approve a property rights bill backed by Florida Realtors. SB 1293 makes it a felony to obtain a rental property using forged documents, a false identity or other fraudulent information, and allows landlords to more quickly remove individuals who gained entry through fraud.

Florida Realtors also worked with lawmakers to remove a proposed septic system disclosure from a Department of Environmental Protection bill, saying the language could confuse consumers and be difficult to implement.

Another proposal related to property tax estimations would require public facing online listing platforms and websites to provide estimated tax information to prospective buyers (instead of the current owner’s taxes), or link to the property appraisers website for the information. Florida Realtors successfully worked with bill sponsors to hold licensees and other information providers harmless from liability for the accuracy of the information. The measure has not yet passed but could still move forward during the upcoming budget negotiations.

Initial budget proposals from the House and Senate include funding for several Realtor priorities including home hardening programs, the Hometown Heroes Housing Program, the state’s housing trust funds and water quality projects.

A significant number of bills did not pass before the session ended, including bills related to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and property tax relief.

“Thanks to the passion and involvement of our members, we were successful this session in delivering legislative wins that protect our profession, consumers, and property rights,” Bonfiglio added.

© 2026 Florida Realtors®