A new amendment to a Florida bill could shut down the state’s Real Estate Commission (FREC) and shift its powers to a state agency.
House Bill 1461, introduced by Rep. Taylor Michael Yarkosky on February 28, initially made no mention of the Florida Real Estate Commission. That changed on April 7, when a 389-page amendment was added to eliminate FREC entirely.
The bill passed its first committee hearing on April 9 and advanced through a second on April 16. One more committee vote is needed before it can move to the House floor.
And as of yet, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) has been silent.
Read on for the key takeaways and biggest reactions (thus far).
What the Bill Would Do
House Bill 1461 would abolish most professional boards and commissions operating under the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), including FREC. The responsibilities currently handled by FREC—licensure, enforcement, and disciplinary actions—would be absorbed by DBPR.
At this stage, the bill does not specify:
- How DBPR would handle FREC’s current workload
- Whether additional staffing would be provided
- How disciplinary matters would be managed
FREC currently oversees nearly 320,000 active and more than 100,000 inactive licensees across the state.
Industry Response and Public Testimony
Tim Weisheyer, president of Florida Realtors, spoke at the committee hearing in Tallahassee to share the organization’s position on the bill. He emphasized the importance of real estate regulation and oversight:
“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 said Florida Realtors understands the state’s broader goal of reducing regulation but expressed support for preserving FREC:
“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.”
He also cited the institutional experience within FREC:
“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.”
“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.”
Florida Realtors stated it will continue to engage with lawmakers and stakeholders as the bill moves forward.
What’s Next
- The bill must clear one more House committee before advancing to a full vote
- The Senate must either pass a companion bill or adopt the House version
- Governor DeSantis has not yet taken a public position
- If passed, the legislation would go into effect on July 1
Florida Realtors has stated it will continue lobbying against the measure in its current form while remaining open to further discussions on how to approach regulation going forward.
During her testimony in front of the Florida legislature, CEO Margy Grant said the following:
“The Florida Real Estate Commission has been a trusted and experienced partner to consumers and real estate professionals for more than 100 years. Eliminating FREC would have a significant negative impact on both consumer protection and Florida’s real estate industry, which is a major economic driver within our state.”
As of yet, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has not made a public statement on the bill, as Nashville RE/MAX agent Joseph Goodman pointed out in a recent TikTok titled, “#NAZ National Association of Zillow”:
@rmgoodmangroup #NAZ ♬ original sound – Joseph Goodman
Time will tell whether (or how soon) NAR makes its position known.. Stay tuned for more as the story develops.
