Senate committee backs law clarifying when motels can remove nonpaying guests; debate highlights risk to families living in motels

The Senate Criminal Justice Committee on CS for SB 606 reported the bill favorably after extended discussion about the bill’s impact on motel operators and residents who use extended‑stay lodging as housing.

Senator Leake said the bill clarifies existing law by focusing on written agreements to determine whether occupancy is transient or nontransient. The sponsor said the proposal removes the current ‘‘intent’’ test that left operators and law enforcement in a sometimes ambiguous position when a guest claimed a motel or other public lodging was their sole residence. The bill also removes an automatic criminal penalty for removal and expands how required notices can be delivered to guests.

Industry supporters described frequent incidents in which guests pay for a single night and then remain for weeks or months without paying. Samantha Padgett of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association told the committee a recent survey of hoteliers found many small owners have faced recurring nonpayment problems and that the draft statute would provide “brighter lines” for operators, guests and law enforcement.

Opponents, including Community Justice Project and advocates for people experiencing homelessness, warned the bill could speed the removal of families using motels as temporary housing after disasters or because of housing shortages. Carrie Fite, an attorney with Community Justice Project, told the committee the bill’s single‑factor written‑agreement test risks displacing students and families who meet ordinary indicia of residency (mail delivery, school enrollment) but lack a formal document stating the lodging is their sole residence.

Committee members raised questions about guardrails for families and children. Vice Chair Smith and Senator Pizzo asked whether an operator could refuse to sign a written residency agreement to facilitate removal; senators discussed possible requirements that operators furnish written notice or include express terms at point of sale. The sponsor said law enforcement would still exercise discretion and removed the statutory mandatory‑arrest language in the bill.

After debate and public comment the committee reported CS for SB 606 favorably; Vice Chair Smith recorded a no vote on the roll call. Senator Leake said the measure aims to reduce the burden on small lodging operators while preserving law‑enforcement discretion in cases involving children or vulnerable residents.

The committee’s action sends the bill to the next stage of consideration in the Senate.