October 15, 2025

Back in June 2025, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed two bills aimed at curbing unauthorized occupancy. “Florida doesn’t tolerate squatters; we stand with property owners,” he said during the signing. Together, these two statutes reflect Florida’s effort to protect property rights through quicker enforcement tools. These changes in law may influence lenders and servicers managing distressed commercial assets because, while these statutes accelerate property turnover and/or collateral recovery in default scenarios, they may also increase compliance risks for those who act without first installing proper safeguards.

Senate Bill 322 (Florida Statute §82.037), effective July 1, 2025, creates a process for commercial property owners to work directly with sheriffs to remove unauthorized individuals without a full court proceeding. While it offers faster relief, the law imposes penalties for wrongful removal (including damages and attorney’s fees).

Senate Bill 606 (Florida Statute §509.141), effective July 1, 2026, updates procedures for removing hotel or lodging guests who overstay or fail to pay. It requires notice by email, text, or paper delivery, and elevates refusal to leave after notice into a second-degree misdemeanor.

In summary, these updates create a more structured enforcement path and reduce uncertainties around occupancy disputes for both lenders and servicers which may indicate a broader trend of legislative intervention in the future of property possession laws.