The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Fiscal Policy
BILL: SB 304
INTRODUCER: Senator Hooper
SUBJECT: Household Moving Services
DATE: January 29, 2024 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. McMillan McKay CM Favorable
2. Blizzard Betta AEG Favorable
3. McMillan Yeatman FP Favorable
I. Summary:
SB 304 broadens protections for consumers who use intrastate moving services by:
Providing additional registration and proof of registration requirements for movers and
moving brokers;
Providing for a required performance bond or certificate of deposit in certain circumstances
for shippers’ moved goods;
Requiring a binding estimate of the cost of services, including any applicable fees of a
moving broker, to be provided by the mover to a prospective shipper;
Requiring a moving broker to arrange with a registered mover for the loading, transportation,
shipment, or unloading of household goods as part of a household move;
Requiring a moving broker to include certain information on any document provided by the
moving broker to a shipper; and
Requiring the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to suspend a mover’s or
moving broker’s registration under certain circumstances.
The bill has an indeterminate, but likely insignificant impact on state revenues or expenditures.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.
BILL: SB 304 Page 2
II. Present Situation:
Moving Scams
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has seen a marked increase in complaints and negative
reviews about movers in recent years.1 In 2022, nearly 15,198 complaints were filed with the
BBB against moving companies.2 Additionally, consumers reported more than $129,040 lost to
moving scams to the BBB Scam Tracker.3
One frequent moving scam involves an initial low-ball estimate (usually provided without an in-
person visit to review the belongings that need to be moved) that turns into a demand for a much
higher price once all of the household belongings are on the moving truck and awaiting delivery.
The truck driver can simply drive away if the consumer refuses to pay the higher price.4,5
Another scam requires the shipper to sign a blank or incomplete estimate or contract, which
results in a higher than expected price demanded at the time of delivery.6
On December 8, 2022, Attorney General Moody filed legal action against three individuals, two
holding companies, and multiple fraudulent moving brokerage businesses.7 According to the
consumer protection investigation, the businesses acted as a common enterprise to deceive more
than 400 Floridians into believing the company professionally handled moving services, and
promised to provide refunds if anything went wrong. Instead, the companies hired third parties to
complete the moving services at subpar quality and refused to provide refunds.8
Florida (Intrastate) Mover Regulations
Chapter 507, F.S., governs the loading, transportation, shipment, unloading, and affiliated
storage of household goods as part of intrastate household moves. The chapter applies to any
mover or moving broker engaged in intrastate transportation or shipment of household goods that
1
Better Business Bureau, Know Your Mover: BBB Study Reveals Scammers Price Gouge, Take Belongings Hostage, and
Destroy Goods (Jun. 30, 2020), available at https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/22659-know-your-mover-bbb-study-
reveals-scammers-price-gouge-take-belongings-hostage-and-destroy-goods (last visited Dec. 4, 2023).
2
Better Business Bureau, BBB Scam Alert: Avoid Moving Scams this National Moving Month (May 17, 2023) available at
https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/24198-bbb-scam-alert-avoid-moving-scams-this-national-moving-month (last visited Dec.
4, 2023).
3
Id.
4
Better Business Bureau, Know Your Mover: BBB Study Reveals Scammers Price Gouge, Take Belongings Hostage, and
Destroy Goods (Jun. 30, 2020), available at https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/22659-know-your-mover-bbb-study-
reveals-scammers-price-gouge-take-belongings-hostage-and-destroy-goods (last visited Dec. 4, 2023).
5
See, e.g., Jackie Callaway, Record Number of People File Complaints About Florida Movers in 2021; BBB rates 1,300
Companies ‘F’, (Dec. 2, 2021), available at https://www.abcactionnews.com/money/consumer/taking-action-for-you/record-
number-of-people-file-complaints-about-florida-movers-in-2021-bbb-rates-1-300-companies-f (last visited Dec. 4, 2023).
6
Florida Attorney General’s Office, Scams at a Glance: On the Move, available at
http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/TDGT-BYLQQL/$file/Movers_Scams+at+a+Glance_English.pdf (last visited
Dec. 4, 2023).
7
See Office of Attorney General Ashley Moody, Attorney General Moody Takes Action to Shut Down Massive Moving Scam
(Dec. 8, 2022), available at News Release - Attorney General Moody Takes Action to Shut Down Massive Moving Scam
(myfloridalegal.com) (last visited Dec. 4, 2023).
8
Id.
BILL: SB 304 Page 3
originates and terminates in Florida.9 These regulations co-exist with federal law, which governs
interstate moving of household goods.10
A “mover” is a person who, for compensation, contracts for or engages in the loading,
transportation, shipment, or unloading of household goods as part of a household move.11 A
“moving broker” arranges for another person to load, transport, ship, or unload household goods
as part of a household move or who refers a shipper to a mover by telephone, postal, or
electronic mail, website, or other means.12
Movers and moving brokers who do business in Florida must register annually with the
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Department).13 As of December 4, 2023,
there were 1,348 movers and 39 moving brokers with active Florida registrations.14 In order to
obtain a registration certificate, the mover or moving broker must file an application, pay a $300
annual registration fee, and meet certain statutory qualifications, including proof of insurance
coverage.15
Insurance Coverage and Liability Limitations
Movers and moving brokers must maintain liability and motor vehicle insurance. A mover who
operates more than two vehicles is required to maintain liability insurance of at least $10,000 per
shipment, and not less than 60 cents per pound, per article.16 Movers who operate fewer than two
vehicles are required only to carry either a $25,000 performance bond or a $25,000 certificate of
deposit in lieu of liability insurance.17
Any contractual limitation to a mover’s liability for loss incurred to a shipper’s goods must be
disclosed in writing to the shipper, along with the valuation rate, but a mover’s attempt to limit
its liability beyond the minimum 60 cents per pound, per article rate is void under
s. 507.04(4), F.S. If the mover offers valuation insurance, it must inform the shipper of the
opportunity to purchase valuation coverage to compensate the shipper for household goods that
are lost or damaged during a household move, prior to execution of the contract for moving
services.18
9
Section 507.02, F.S.
10
Interstate movers in the U.S. must be licensed by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA).
11
Section 507.01(9), F.S.
12
Section 507.01(10), F.S.
13
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Moving Companies: Who has to Register?, available
at https://www.fdacs.gov/Business-Services/Moving-Companies (last visited Dec. 4, 2023).
14
FDACS, License/Complaint Lookup, available at https://csapp.fdacs.gov/cspublicapp/businesssearch/businesssearch.aspx
(last visited Dec. 4, 2023). Search by “program.”
15
Section 507.03, F.S.
16
Sections 507.04(1)(a)1. and 507.04(4), F.S.
17
Section 507.04(1)(b), F.S.
18
Section 507.04(5), F.S.
BILL: SB 304 Page 4
Violations and Penalties
Section 507.05, F.S., requires an intrastate mover to provide an estimate and contract to the
shipper before commencing the move. Should a dispute arise over payment or costs,
s. 507.06, F.S., provides that the mover may place the shipper’s goods in a storage unit until
payment is tendered. Because of ambiguity regarding what payment may legally be demanded,
some shippers have been taken advantage of by deceptive or fraudulent moving practices. Often,
moving fraud manifests as an increased fee assessed by the mover, who then refuses to relinquish
the shipper’s goods until the inflated price has been paid in full.
While administrative, civil, and criminal penalties exist in ch. 507, F.S., for such fraudulent
moving practices and other violations, the aggrieved shipper is not guaranteed the return of his or
her goods until after such remedies have been finalized.
In March of 2021, the Florida Consumer Protection Division within the Office of the Attorney
General secured four judgments against moving companies that used deceptive advertising,
failed to provide proper estimates, failed to relinquish household goods, and failed to provide
timely pick-up or delivery of goods in accordance with service contracts. 19
Local Ordinances and Regulations
Chapter 507, F.S., preempts local ordinances or regulations that relate to household moving,
unless the local regulation was adopted prior to January 1, 2011.20 Broward,21 Miami-Dade,22
Palm Beach,23 and Pinellas24 counties currently have such ordinances. Movers or moving brokers
whose principal place of business is located in a county or municipality with such an ordinance
are required to register under local and state laws. State law also allows for local taxes, fees, and
bonding related to movers and moving brokers, so long as any local registration fees are
reasonable and do not exceed the cost of administering the ordinance or regulation.25
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
Definitions and Legislative Intent
Section 1 amends the following definitions in s. 507.01, F.S.;
19
Office of the Attorney General, Attorney General Moody Shuts Down Moving Scams and Recovers Millions for Consumers
Duped by Malicious Movers (Mar. 2, 2021), available at
http://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/0BFF0224649D124D8525868C005A765F?Open& (last visited
Dec. 4, 2023).
20
Section 507.13, F.S.
21
Broward County Government, Movers, available at
https://www.broward.org/Consumer/ConsumerProtection/Movers/Pages/default.aspx (last visited Dec. 4, 2023).
22
Miami-Dade County, Moving Companies—Laws & Tips, available at
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/economy/consumer-protection/moving-
companies.page#:~:text=Movers%20must%20insure%20your%20property,the%20value%20of%20your%20property.&text=
The%20amount%20of%20added%20value%20you%20purchase%20is%20up%20to%20you. (last visited Dec. 4, 2023).
23
Palm Beach County, Moving, available at https://discover.pbcgov.org/publicsafety/consumeraffairs/pages/moving.aspx
(last visited Dec. 4, 2023).
24
Pinellas County, Moving, available at https://www.pinellascounty.org/consumer/moving.htm (last visited Dec. 4, 2023).
25
Section 507.13, F.S.
BILL: SB 304 Page 5
“Contract for service” or “bill of lading” means a written document prepared by a registered
mover which is approved and electronically acknowledged or signed by the shipper in
writing before the performance of any service by the mover and which authorizes the named
mover to perform the services and lists all costs associated with the household move and
accessorial services to be performed;
“Estimate” means a written document prepared by a registered mover which sets forth the
total costs and describes the basis of those costs, related to a shipper’s household move,
including, but not limited to, the loading, transportation or shipment, and unloading of
household goods and accessorial services; and
“Moving broker” or “broker” means a person who, for compensation, arranges with a
registered mover for loading, transporting or shipping, or unloading of household goods as
part of a household move or who, for compensation, refers a shipper to a registered mover.
Section 2 amends s. 507.02, F.S., to provide that the bill is intended to establish the law of
Florida governing the brokering of moves of household goods by moving brokers.
Mover Registration
Section 3 amends s. 507.03, F.S., to clarify that “broker” means “moving broker.”
The bill clarifies that each estimate or contract of a “mover” must include a phrase that contains
the following:
The name of the firm;
A Statement that includes the firm is registered with the State of Florida as a mover; and
A Florida mover registration number.
The bill also clarifies that any document from a “moving broker” must include:
The name of the firm;
A statement that includes the firm is registered with the State of Florida as a moving
broker; and
A Florida moving broker registration number.
Additionally, the bill states that each advertisement of a “moving broker” must include the
following:
A Florida moving broker registration number;
The name of the firm; and
A phrase that states the firm is paid by a shipper to arrange, or offer to arrange, the
transportation of property by a registered mover.
The bill requires each moving broker to provide the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services (department) with a complete list of registered movers that the moving broker has
contracted or is affiliated with, advertises on behalf of, arranges moves for, or refers shippers to,
including each mover’s complete name, address, telephone number, email address, and
registration number and the name of each mover’s owners, corporate officers, and directors.
Additionally, a moving broker must notify the department of any changes to the provided
BILL: SB 304 Page 6
information, and the department must publish and maintain a list of all moving brokers and the
registered movers each moving broker is contracted with on its website.
The bill provides that a person may not hold themselves out to be a mover or moving broker
without first registering with the department.
The bill requires the department to immediately issue a cease and desist order to a person upon
finding that such person is operating as a mover or moving broker without registering.
Additionally, the department may seek an immediate injunction from the appropriate circuit
court that prohibits the person from operating in Florida until the person complies with the
registration requirement, a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000, and court costs.
Insurance Requirement
Section 4 amends the insurance requirements in s. 507.04, F.S. The bill authorizes a mover that
operates two or fewer vehicles, in lieu of maintaining liability insurance coverage, to maintain
one of the following alternative coverages:
A performance bond in the amount of $50,000, up from the current $25,000, for which the
surety of the bond must be a surety company authorized to conduct business in Florida; or
A certificate of deposit in a Florida banking institution in the amount of $50,000, up from the
current $25,000.
The bill also requires a moving broker to maintain one of the above listed coverages.
The bill requires the department to immediately suspend a mover’s or moving broker’s
registration if the mover or moving broker fails to maintain the required performance bond,
certificate of deposit, or the appropriate insurance. In such cases, the mover or moving broker
must immediately cease operating as a mover or moving broker in Florida. Additionally, the
department may seek an immediate injunction from the appropriate circuit court that prohibits
the person from operating in Florida until the person complies with the aforementioned
requirements, a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000, and court costs.
Estimates and Contracts for Service
Section 5 amends s. 507.05, F.S., to require that an estimate and a contract must be prepared by a
registered mover and provided to a prospective shipper in writing, and the shipper, mover, and
moving broker mu