Committee modernizes pawnbroker transaction record requirement to allow digital forms

House Bill 139 would update Florida’s pawnbroking law by removing a requirement that pawn transactions be captured exclusively on a standard printed 8.5-by-11-inch form, allowing pawnbrokers the option to use digital transaction records instead.

“House Bill 139 is a straightforward modernization of Florida's pawn industry that will allow fund brokers to use digital transactions forms,” Representative Lopez told the committee. Lopez said the bill “does not change how the industry operates, does not add new regulations, and does not impose any new costs. It simply provides a digital option to record transaction forms.”

Under current law, the committee was told, the Florida Pawnbroking Act (cited in committee as Florida Statute 539.0018(a) in the analysis) requires printed transaction forms and effectively blocked many pawn operators from adopting digital recordkeeping. The committee considered a technical amendment that established a minimum font size for digital pawnbroker transaction forms and required that information now printed on the front or back of the paper form be placed on the first or second page of a digital form to preserve readability and record structure. The committee adopted the amendment without recorded opposition.

Members spoke in favor during debate; Representative Benaroche thanked the sponsor for clarifying questions and said he would support the bill. Representative Bellas praised the measure as a way to “help industries get up to modern times.” No public testimony was recorded against the bill.

A roll-call vote recorded 15 yays, 0 nays; the committee showed the bill favorably and advanced it to the next stage in the process.