Florida’s push to cut licensing oversight draws Realtor pushback

The bill passed through an initial committee hearing on April 9 and advanced again on Tuesday. One more committee hurdle remains before it could head to the full state House for a vote.

If passed, the measure would abolish most boards and commissions under the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), leaving uncertainty around who would assume their oversight responsibilities.

Tim Weisheyer, the president of Florida Realtors, appeared before lawmakers in Tallahassee to voice the industry’s opposition.

“We’re talking about the largest financial investment that families and individuals make in their lives — their homes, the place that they build their wealth, and something that we know is really important to the fabric and the fiber of every single community,” Weisheyer told the committee.

“We understand the intent of the bill and what the state is trying to do with deregulation, but we do truly believe that real estate is one of those that should be preserved — the Florida Real Estate Commission should stand.”

FREC, which oversees licensure and disciplinary actions for nearly 320,000 active and more than 100,000 inactive real estate professionals, was established to enforce legal and ethical standards in the industry.

Real estate activity accounts for roughly $394 billion (or 24%) of the state’s overall economy, according to Florida Realtors.

“The truth is, the Florida Real Estate Commission, as it stands today, has over 175 years of combined experience and expertise that’s really unique and really nuanced,” Weisheyer added.

“Being able to look at the very unique circumstances that come before them to make decisions on not just who gets a license, but also who gets to keep or maintain a license in the state of Florida is critical. We stand in opposition to the bill, but we stand in support of continued collaboration.”

Critics say the bill fails to specify how DBPR would manage the disciplinary and regulatory duties currently handled by FREC.

The proposal does not allocate additional staffing or funding to help DBPR absorb the expected workload, raising concerns about oversight gaps, Weisheyer said.

While the bill’s sponsors aim to streamline government and reduce bureaucracy, critics also warn that abolishing FREC could create more problems than it solves. There is the potential to undermine accountability, weaken public trust and destabilize key sectors of Florida’s economy.

Should the bill clear the state House, the Senate would need to either pass a companion version or adopt the House bill before it could head to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Neither the governor nor Senate leaders have publicly taken a position.

If final approval is obtained, the legislation would take effect July 1.

Florida Realtors said it will continue lobbying against the measure in its current form, adding that it remains committed to engaging with stakeholders and lawmakers to shape any future changes to real estate industry oversight.