The bill passed the first committee hearing on April 9th and moved forward again on Tuesday. Another committee hurdle remains before heading to the full state capitol for a vote.
If you pass, the measure will abolish most boards and commissions. Florida Department of Management and Specialist Regulation (DBPR), leaves us with uncertainty about who will assume responsibility for monitoring.
Tim Wysheyer, president of a Florida real estate agent, appeared before a Tallahassee lawmaker to express his industry opposition.
“We’re talking about the biggest financial investments that families and individuals make in their lives — their homes, where they build their wealth, and something we know, are truly important to the fabrics and textiles of all communities,” Weisheyer told the committee.
“We understand the intent of the bill and what the state is trying to do with deregulation, but we believe that real estate is one of the things that should be preserved. The Florida Real Estate Board should stand.”
Overseeing the licenses and disciplinary actions of approximately 320,000 active and over 100,000 real estate professionals, FREC was established to implement legal and ethical standards in the industry.
Real estate activities account for around $394 billion (or 24%) of the state’s overall economy, according to Florida real estate agents.
“The truth is, the Florida Real Estate Board, like it does today, is truly unique and subtle, combining over 175 years of experience and expertise,” added Weisheyer.
“It’s important that you can see a very unique situation that comes before them not only to get a license, but also to decide to maintain or maintain a license in Florida. We oppose the bill, but we support ongoing collaboration.”
Critics say the bill does not specify how DBPR will govern disciplinary and regulatory obligations currently being handled by the FREC.
The proposal raises concerns about the monitoring gap, which does not allocate additional staffing or funding to help DBPR absorb expected workloads, Weisheyer said.
While sponsors of the bill aim to streamline government and reduce bureaucracy, critics also warn that abolishing the FREC could cause more problems than it would resolve. It could undermine accountability, weaken public trust and destabilize major sectors of Florida’s economy.
If the bill clears the Capitol, the Senate must either pass the companion version or adopt the House bill. You can head to Governor Ron DeSantis’s desk before you. Neither the governor nor the Senate leader has publicly acquired positions.
If final approval is obtained, the law will take effect on July 1st.
The Florida real estate agent said he will continue to lobby against measures in its current form, adding that he is still committed to continuing to engage with stakeholders and lawmakers to shape future changes in real estate industry surveillance.
