Senate committee advances bill requiring safety features at rental properties after child-drowning testimony

Senator Smith, a sponsor of CS/CS/SB 658, told the Community Affairs Committee the bill is meant to address a rising number of fatal child drownings in Florida by requiring water-safety features at rental properties that have swimming pools or other water bodies within 150 feet. "In 2023, 97 children fatally drowned in Florida. In 2024, 105 children fatally drowned. Last year, 119 children fatally drowned," Smith said, citing Department of Health and Department of Children and Families figures she summarized for the panel.

The bill requires long- and short-term residential rentals with a water body within 150 feet or a swimming pool on the premises to be equipped with at least one safety feature: door- or window-exit alarms, self-closing and self-latching doors, pool covers, pool fences or flotation devices that sound an alarm on unexpected water entry. Senator Smith said the measure lets applicants for vacation-rental licenses demonstrate compliance up front and gives the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) rulemaking authority to implement the program.

Multiple witnesses and child-advocacy groups urged approval. Mike Trepper, president and CEO of Pasco Kids First, and Maria Martinez of the Orange County Drowning Prevention Task Force described child-death reviews and rising counts. "This is a prominent issue," Trepper said in support. Parent and former Autism Society of Florida president Stacy Hoagland told senators that children with autism are overrepresented in drowning statistics and urged action to make rental properties safer.

Committee amendments were adopted on the bill's floor in committee: one technical amendment clarified cross-references; a late-filed amendment required vacation-rental license applicants to file a certificate on initial licensure and renewal certifying the presence of a safety feature, and gave DBPR explicit rulemaking authority. Supporters said that certification requirement is intended to shift enforcement to the front end rather than relying solely on penalties after violations.

After discussion and public comment, the committee voted to report CS/CS/SB 658 favorably. The measure now moves to its next committee stop.

Provenance: The committee considered CS/CS/SB 658 beginning with committee recognition and sponsor remarks and the roll call on the amended bill (topic intro SEG 141; topic finish SEG 595).