QUICK ANSWER
Florida CS/HB 607 did not pass. The bill died in the House Commerce Committee on March 13, 2026. It would have shifted licensing authority from multiple professional boards and commissions to DBPR, including changes affecting the Florida Real Estate Commission and Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board. It also would have removed Florida real estate post-license education and continuing education requirements. Because the bill failed, current Florida real estate license rules remain in effect.
EXAM PREP ONLY
This post explains how this topic appears on the Florida real estate sales associate exam. It is not legal, tax, lending, appraisal, brokerage, title, insurance, closing, or professional advice. For a real transaction or real-world decision, verify current requirements with the official source or consult a qualified licensed Florida professional.
What this guide covers
- What HB 607 was
- Did HB 607 pass?
- What did not change
- Why the bill mattered
- What it would have meant for licensees
- What it means for exam candidates
- What to watch for next
- Student mistakes this bill can cause
- FAQ
HB 607 is easy to misread.
Because it failed, it did not change what candidates or licensees need to do today. If you are studying for the Florida real estate sales associate exam right now, the 63-hour pre-license course still applies. The Pearson VUE state exam still applies. The 75-point passing score still applies. FREC still exists. The 45-hour sales associate post-license requirement still exists. The 14-hour continuing education requirement still exists.
The bill is still worth a short explanation because it shows where Florida licensing debates may go next. It was not a tiny cleanup bill. It touched FREC, FREAB, post-license education, continuing education, board authority, and mutual recognition concerns.
CURRENT RULES STILL APPLY
Study for the exam that exists, not the bill that failed.
Pass Florida is an educational exam-prep tool for Florida sales associate candidates: 1,002 Florida-specific questions, a 19-topic diagnostic, six modes, Math Coach across the 14 Florida math calculation types, Trap Library, Confidence Calibration, offline access, optional sync, lifetime updates, and a one-time $39.99 paid upgrade after the free download. No subscription. No copied exam questions.
What HB 607 was
Snippet answer: CS/HB 607 was a 2026 Florida House bill that proposed moving more professional licensing authority into DBPR and changing real estate post-license and CE requirements, but it did not become law.
CS/HB 607 was a 2026 Florida House bill titled "Industries and Professional Activities." Rep. Yarkosky was the primary House sponsor, and the Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee reported a committee substitute.
The bill was broader than real estate. It dealt with boards, councils, commissions, licensing authority, continuing education, fingerprint processing, and other professional regulation issues across DBPR and DACS.
For real estate licensees, the important part was simple: HB 607 would have moved more authority from real estate-specific boards and commissions into DBPR.
The official bill summary described the real estate pieces this way:
| HB 607 proposal | Practical meaning |
|---|---|
| Transfer licensing authority to DBPR rather than boards | FREC's independent role would have been reduced or transferred |
| Transfer powers and duties related to the real estate board | FREC authority would have moved into DBPR |
| Grant authority to DBPR rather than the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board | FREAB authority would have moved into DBPR |
| Remove post-licensure education requirements for brokers, broker associates, and sales associates | New sales associates would not have completed the current post-license course |
| Remove continuing education requirements for renewal | Current licensees would not have needed regular CE to renew |
| Remove CE for inactive-status renewal | Inactive license education rules would have changed |
The bill's general effective date would have been July 1, 2026.
Did HB 607 pass?
Snippet answer: No. The official Florida Senate bill page lists CS/HB 607 as having died in House Commerce Committee on March 13, 2026.
No.
The official Florida Senate bill page lists the last action for CS/HB 607 as: House, Died in Commerce Committee, March 13, 2026.
That means the bill did not become law. It did not change Florida real estate licensing rules. It did not eliminate FREC. It did not remove post-license education. It did not remove continuing education.
The bill did move through part of the House process:
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| December 2, 2025 | HB 607 filed |
| December 3, 2025 | Referred to Industries and Professional Activities, State Administration Budget, and Commerce |
| December 11, 2025 | Favorable with committee substitute in Industries and Professional Activities |
| January 14, 2026 | Favorable in State Administration Budget |
| March 13, 2026 | Died in House Commerce Committee |
The January 14 staff analysis lists "Companion Bill: None." That matters because Florida legislation usually has a stronger path when House and Senate versions are moving together. HB 607 did not have that parallel Senate companion.
What did not change
Snippet answer: Because HB 607 failed, the 63-hour course, Pearson VUE exam, 45-hour post-license course, 14-hour CE requirement, FREC, and current DBPR rules still apply.
This is the section students and new agents should care about most.
| Current rule | Status after HB 607 died |
|---|---|
| 63-hour Florida pre-license course | Still required unless you qualify for an exemption |
| Florida sales associate exam | Still required |
| Pearson VUE testing | Still the exam vendor |
| 100-question sales associate exam | Still the core state exam format |
| 75% passing score | Still required |
| 45-hour post-license course for sales associates | Still required before initial renewal |
| 14-hour continuing education for active licensees | Still required every renewal cycle |
| FREC | Still exists |
| FREAB | Still exists |
| Mutual recognition | Still exists under current DBPR rules |
DBPR's current real estate pages say sales associates must complete 45 hours of post-license education before initial renewal, and current active licensees need 14 hours of continuing education. DBPR also lists 10 current mutual recognition states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
For the full licensing path, use the how to get a Florida real estate license guide. For renewal rules, use the Florida real estate license renewal guide.
Why the bill mattered
Snippet answer: HB 607 mattered because it targeted the oversight structure behind Florida real estate licensing, not just a minor wording cleanup.
FREC is not just a name on a government page. DBPR describes FREC as the regulatory body that protects the public by regulating real estate sales associates, brokers, schools, and instructors. DBPR also says FREC administers and enforces Chapter 475, Part I, Florida Statutes, and has rulemaking authority under Chapter 61J2, Florida Administrative Code.
That is why HB 607 drew attention.
If a bill moves those powers away from a real estate commission and into the department, it changes the oversight structure behind the license. If a bill removes post-license and continuing education, it changes the ongoing education expectation after a person becomes licensed.
Reasonable people can debate whether that is good policy. From an exam-prep perspective, the important point is narrower: as of May 27, 2026, that debate did not change the exam or license path.
Why Florida Realtors opposed it
Snippet answer: Florida Realtors opposed HB 607 as an advocacy matter, arguing that it would weaken education, oversight, consumer protection, and mutual recognition.
Florida Realtors opposed HB 607. Its 2026 legislative priorities page argued that the bill would harm the real estate industry and remove consumer protections. Its final report said the bill would have abolished FREC and FREAB, replaced post-license and continuing education requirements with a DBPR email, and compromised mutual recognition.
That is an advocacy position, not a neutral government source. It still matters because Florida Realtors was a major opposition voice, and the group treated stopping HB 607 as a significant 2026 legislative win.
Their argument had three parts:
| Opposition concern | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|
| Consumer protection | A maintained license means more than a one-time exam |
| License value | Education and oversight help the public trust the credential |
| Mutual recognition | Other states may care whether Florida keeps comparable oversight |
For students, the key takeaway is not politics. It is that Florida's current license still has ongoing education and commission oversight behind it.
What HB 607 would have meant for new licensees
Snippet answer: If HB 607 had passed, the biggest immediate change for new sales associates would likely have been removal of the 45-hour post-license requirement.
If HB 607 had passed, the biggest near-term change for a new sales associate would likely have been the post-license requirement.
Current rule: after receiving a sales associate license, the first renewal requires 45 hours of post-license education.
HB 607 direction: remove post-licensure education requirements for brokers, broker associates, and sales associates.
That would have reduced friction and cost for new agents. It also would have removed a standardized education checkpoint that currently happens after the state exam, when new licensees are closer to real practice.
The 63-hour pre-license course was a different issue. The bill summary and analyses focused on post-license and continuing education, not eliminating the initial sales associate exam path.
What HB 607 would have meant for current licensees
Snippet answer: For current active licensees, HB 607 would have removed continuing education for renewal, but the bill failed and current CE rules remain.
For current active licensees, the obvious change would have been continuing education.
Current DBPR rule: active licensees complete 14 hours of continuing education for renewal, unless a specific exemption applies.
HB 607 direction: remove continuing education requirements for renewal as broker, broker associate, or sales associate.
That would have saved time and CE course cost for licensees. It also would have changed how Florida keeps licensees current on changing laws, rules, contracts, and consumer-protection requirements.
The bill did not pass, so current renewal rules remain.
Fast decision table
Snippet answer: If you are applying, newly licensed, or renewing now, follow current DBPR rules because HB 607 did not change your next step.
Use this if you are trying to decide whether HB 607 affects your next step.
| Your situation | What to do now |
|---|---|
| You are applying for a Florida sales associate license | Follow the current DBPR path: 63-hour course, application, fingerprints, Pearson VUE exam, and broker activation. |
| You recently passed the exam | Plan for the current 45-hour post-license requirement before your initial renewal unless DBPR says you qualify for a specific exemption. |
| You are already licensed and active | Keep tracking the current 14-hour continuing education requirement for your renewal cycle. |
| You saw social posts saying FREC is gone | Check official DBPR and Florida Senate sources before changing your study plan or renewal plan. |
The practical rule is simple: until a bill becomes law and the official agencies update their rules, study and renew under the current published requirements.
What HB 607 would have meant for exam candidates
Snippet answer: For exam candidates, HB 607 has no practical effect because it failed before becoming law.
For someone studying right now, the effect is very simple: none.
You should still study:
| Exam area | Still relevant? |
|---|---|
| Chapter 475 license law | Yes |
| Chapter 61J2 FREC rules | Yes |
| Agency and brokerage relationships | Yes |
| Contracts | Yes |
| Real estate math | Yes |
| Property rights | Yes |
| Mortgages and lending | Yes |
| Appraisal | Yes |
| Closing statements and documentary stamps | Yes |
| Florida-specific law and disclosure updates | Yes |
Start with the Florida real estate exam guide, then review the 19 exam topics, and use the Florida real estate exam math formulas guide if math is one of your weak areas.
What to watch for next
Snippet answer: Treat HB 607 as history unless a future bill with similar language is filed and advances through the Florida Legislature.
This part is an inference, not a current rule.
HB 607 failed, but the idea behind it may return in a later session. If a similar bill comes back, the important signals will be:
| Signal | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| A Senate companion | A House-only bill has a harder path |
| Narrower real estate-only language | A narrower bill may be easier to pass than a broad deregulation package |
| CE-only language | Removing CE while keeping FREC would be a different fight |
| Post-license-only language | New licensee education could be targeted separately |
| Mutual recognition language | Any change here affects out-of-state licensees and Florida license portability |
| Florida Realtors response | The strongest industry opposition usually appears early |
Until one of those things happens, treat HB 607 as history, not law.
Student mistakes this bill can cause
Mistake 1: Thinking post-license is gone
It is not. Sales associates still need the 45-hour post-license course before first renewal unless they have a valid exemption.
Mistake 2: Thinking CE is gone
It is not. Current active licensees still need 14 hours of continuing education each renewal cycle unless a specific exemption applies.
Mistake 3: Thinking FREC no longer exists
FREC still exists. DBPR's commission information page still describes FREC as the regulatory body for Florida real estate license law, rules, education, applications, violations, and penalties.
Mistake 4: Thinking the exam changed
It did not. The Florida sales associate exam still tests the same public content outline and current Florida law.
Mistake 5: Confusing proposed bills with passed laws
This is a general study habit. A filed bill is not law. A committee vote is not law. A bill that dies in committee is not law.
FAQ
Did Florida HB 607 pass?
No. The official Florida Senate page lists the last action for CS/HB 607 as House, Died in Commerce Committee, on March 13, 2026.
Did HB 607 abolish the Florida Real Estate Commission?
No. HB 607 would have changed FREC's role if it had passed, but it did not pass. FREC still exists and still regulates Florida real estate license law under current DBPR structure.
Did HB 607 remove the 45-hour post-license course?
No. The bill proposed removing post-license requirements, but the proposal failed. The 45-hour sales associate post-license requirement still applies before initial renewal unless the licensee qualifies for a valid exemption.
Did HB 607 remove Florida real estate continuing education?
No. The bill proposed removing CE requirements, but it failed. Current active Florida real estate licensees still need 14 hours of CE each renewal cycle unless an exemption applies.
Does HB 607 change the Florida real estate exam?
No. Because the bill did not pass, the Florida real estate sales associate exam is unchanged.
Could a bill like HB 607 come back?
Yes. Similar ideas can return in later legislative sessions. Watch for a Senate companion, narrower language, CE-only proposals, post-license-only proposals, or early Florida Realtors opposition.
How many mutual recognition states does Florida currently list?
DBPR's current real estate home page lists 10 mutual recognition states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
What should I do if I am studying right now?
Keep studying under current law. Use the exam guide, the 19-topic breakdown, math practice, and Florida-specific question drills. HB 607 does not change your exam path.
Ready to study under the rules that actually apply?
HB 607 changed nothing. The current sales associate exam, 45-hour post-license requirement, and 14-hour CE requirement all stand. If you are getting ready to sit, Pass Florida is an educational exam-prep tool for Florida sales associate candidates: 1,002 Florida-specific questions, a 19-topic diagnostic, six modes, Math Coach across the 14 Florida math calculation types, Trap Library, Confidence Calibration, offline access, optional sync, lifetime updates, and a one-time $39.99 paid upgrade after the free download. No subscription. No copied exam questions.
Try a free Florida question | Run the readiness calculator | Download Pass Florida
This post is exam preparation content for the Florida Real Estate Sales Associate exam. It is not legal, tax, financial, lending, appraisal, brokerage, insurance, title, closing, or professional advice. For real-world decisions, verify current requirements with the official source or consult a qualified licensed Florida professional.
Methodology
This post was reviewed and rewritten on June 27, 2026 using official Florida Senate bill history, House staff analysis, DBPR real estate commission pages, DBPR mutual recognition information, DBPR candidate materials, Pearson VUE testing information, and Florida Realtors advocacy materials. Florida Realtors sources are used to explain the opposition position, not as neutral government authority.
The article focuses on practical effects for three groups: current licensees, new licensees, and exam candidates. It does not endorse or oppose HB 607 as policy. It explains what the bill proposed, what happened to it, and what rules still apply.
Product note. Pass Florida is our Florida-specific exam prep app. This page references our own product, so the relationship is direct and disclosed. We do not claim to use copied exam questions, guarantee passage, or provide legal advice.
Sources
- Florida Senate CS/HB 607 bill history
- Florida House CS/HB 607 State Administration Budget staff analysis
- DBPR Florida Real Estate Commission information
- DBPR Florida Real Estate home and mutual recognition information
- DBPR Mutual Recognition States page
- DBPR Real Estate Sales Associate Candidate Information Booklet
- Pearson VUE Florida Real Estate testing page
- Florida Realtors 2026 Legislative Priorities
- Florida Realtors 2026 Legislative Final Report
- Florida Realtors article on 2026 session advocacy
All information verified June 27, 2026.
