House Bill 755 seeks to strengthen the regulatory framework for construction contracting in Florida by amending several sections of the Florida Statutes. Key provisions include the requirement for licensure applicants to submit a notarized statement from a licensed contractor attesting to their work experience. The bill also introduces disciplinary measures for licensed contractors who provide misleading information and mandates the return of deposits to clients under certain conditions, while allowing contractors to retain a portion of the deposit if they provide a detailed statement of expenditures. Additionally, the bill establishes criminal penalties for misrepresentation of licensure status and failure to fulfill contracted work.

The legislation introduces a new section, 489.1285, which requires the creation of a standardized disciplinary form for local construction regulation boards to report violations to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. It also mandates the use of an automated information system for tracking disciplinary actions and requires implementation reports by December 1, 2026. Furthermore, the bill updates penalties for unlicensed contracting and clarifies reporting requirements for local boards. It emphasizes the importance of financial literacy standards in education, particularly regarding consumer protection in construction contracting, effective for students entering grade 9 in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 755 Filed: 1003.41, 489.119, 489.13, 489.131