CS/SB 1128 (Diaz) and CS/CS/HB 1011 (Fischer) change current law relating to vacation rentals, also known as short-term rentals (STRs). The bills were amended to:

·        clarify the definition of an advertising platform and narrow it by removing print

advertisements from its scope.

·        allow a “grandfathered” city to amend its short-term rental regulations if the amendment makes the regulation less restrictive.

·        require the department to maintain vacation rental property license information in

an accessible electronic format.

·        require advertising platforms to verify a property’s license number prior to publishing its advertisement on its platform and every quarter thereafter.

·        require advertising platforms to quarterly provide the department with the physical

address of the vacation rental properties that advertise on their platforms.

·        impose a duty on advertising platforms to collect and remit taxes in relation to the

rental of a vacation rental property through its platform.

·        establish requirements that advertising platforms adopt an anti-discrimination

policy and inform their users of the public lodging discrimination prohibition found in current law.

·        clarify that the provision of the bill shall not supersede any current or future community association governing document.

Additionally, CS/CS/HB 1011 now requires sexual predators to notify the sheriff's office of a temporary residence within 24 hours of arrival. Language carving out the Florida Keys from certain elements of the preemption was also added to the bill. (Cook)