House clears bill allowing email delivery of landlord-tenant notices with tenant protections added

The Florida House approved CS for CS for CS for HB 615 on April 3, 2025, a bill that authorizes landlords and tenants to deliver required statutory notices via email if both parties opt in in writing.

"This bill authorizes landlords and tenants to deliver required notices via email if both parties agree in writing," Representative Esposito, sponsor of the bill, told the chamber. He said email will generally accelerate notice timelines because most statutory notice periods were established for postal service.

Members questioned how email opt-ins would interact with existing service deadlines. Representative Rayner asked whether read receipts or business-hour limitations were required so a tenant would not lose rights if an email were not received promptly: "Is there a place where that there could be a requirement that it shows that, a, it was opened and or, b, it was read?" Esposito replied that the bill did not require read receipts and that recipients can disable read receipts, and he said the bill includes language allowing tenants to update an email address.

Representative Gottlieb offered an amendment described on the floor as reinforcing tenant protections and clarifying choices and procedures so electronic communication would be optional and not mandatory; Representative Esposito accepted the amendment. Representative Gottlieb closed on the amendment, thanking the sponsor for accepting the friendly change.

Floor debate was structured; proponents said email would remove delays in delivering emergency court orders and notices. After debate and the adoption of the Gottlieb amendment, the clerk announced final passage: "A hundred and 8 yays, 0 nays, mister speaker."

The measure passed with provisions that (1) require written consent to opt in to email exchanges, (2) give tenants the opportunity to update an email address, and (3) allow supervisors or courts to treat email notice as faster than postal mail. The bill delegates technical implementation to clerks and local offices to ensure notice records are maintained.

Ending: Sponsors said the change will modernize service and reduce delay for time-sensitive matters such as Baker Act and Marchman Act orders; supporters stressed the bill remains opt-in and that tenant protections were strengthened on the floor.