Florida Federal and State Laws Practice Questions and Answers
Federal and state laws account for about 3 questions on the Florida sales associate exam. The official outline spans fair housing, federal land and environmental law, federal mortgage-lending law, and Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. These 11 original questions cover the seven Fair Housing Act classes, prohibited conduct, lead and CERCLA rules, RESPA and ECOA, disclosure duties, and Florida security-deposit deadlines, with a primary source after every answer.
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Official outline coverage
What Federal and State Laws can test
The scored set emphasizes the most error-prone rules. Use this map to make sure the smaller subtopics are in your review plan too.
- Federal and Florida fair housing protections
- Steering, blockbusting, redlining, and exemptions
- Lead disclosure, CERCLA, and environmental liability
- RESPA, ECOA, and Truth in Lending fundamentals
- Florida material-fact disclosure duties
- Florida security deposits and advance rent
Quiz mode · Test yourself
Federal and State Laws Practice Questions
11 scenario-based questions on federal and state laws, scored, each with a full explanation after you answer. Every question is also written out below if you would rather study at your own pace.
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How Federal and State Laws is testedRead the strategy behind this topic
This small exam category covers a surprisingly wide range. Do not study it as fair housing alone. A question may instead test environmental cleanup liability, a mortgage referral fee, or the deadline for a Florida landlord to claim against a security deposit.
For fair housing, identify the protected class and the conduct. For lending, identify the statute's job: ECOA governs credit discrimination, RESPA governs settlement practices and referral payments, and Truth in Lending focuses on credit-cost disclosures. For landlord-tenant questions, write down the 15-day, 30-day, and 15-day sequence before selecting an answer.
Study mode · Every question explainedAll 11 questions, correct answers, exam traps and sources
Read each question at your own pace, then reveal the correct answer, the reasoning, and the trap that catches most candidates.
1. Which list correctly states the seven protected classes under the federal Fair Housing Act?
- A.Race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability
- B.Race, age, income, marital status, occupation, sex, and religion
- C.Race, color, creed, age, sexual orientation, sex, and disability
- D.Race, color, religion, national origin, age, income, and disability
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability
Why A is correct: The federal Fair Housing Act protects race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. Familial status includes families with children under 18, pregnant people, and people securing custody of a child. Florida's Fair Housing Act lists the same seven classes.
Trap: Age and income are not protected classes under the federal Fair Housing Act. Familial status and disability are the two students most often forget.
Source: Federal Fair Housing Act, as amended; F.S. 760.23, Florida Fair Housing Act
2. An owner of a single-family home sells it himself, without a real estate licensee and without discriminatory advertising. A limited Fair Housing exemption may apply, but it never applies to discrimination based on
- A.familial status
- B.religion
- C.race
- D.national origin
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. race
Why C is correct: The federal owner-sold single-family exemption is narrow: among other conditions, the owner generally may own no more than three such homes, may not use a broker, and may not use discriminatory advertising. Even when that exemption applies, 42 U.S.C. 1982 bars racial discrimination in property rights. The Fair Housing Act's advertising prohibition also remains applicable.
Trap: An exemption from part of the Fair Housing Act is not permission to discriminate based on race or to publish a discriminatory housing ad.
Source: 42 U.S.C. 1982, equal property rights; Federal Fair Housing Act, exemptions and advertising
3. A licensee tells homeowners that members of a particular protected class are moving into the neighborhood, hoping to scare them into listing their homes at low prices. This illegal practice is
- A.steering
- B.blockbusting
- C.redlining
- D.a permissible market update
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. blockbusting
Why B is correct: Blockbusting, also called panic selling, is inducing owners to sell by suggesting that members of a protected class are moving into the area. It is illegal under the Fair Housing Act. Steering is directing buyers toward or away from areas based on a protected class, and redlining is a lender denying loans in certain areas.
Trap: Blockbusting scares owners into selling. Steering channels buyers. Redlining is a lending denial. Match the behavior to the term.
4. Federal law requires lead-based paint disclosure for residential properties built before
- A.1968
- B.1978
- C.1988
- D.2000
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. 1978
Why B is correct: The federal disclosure rule applies to most housing built before 1978. Sellers and lessors must disclose known lead information and provide the required EPA pamphlet. A seller must also give a buyer a 10-day opportunity to conduct a lead inspection or risk assessment unless the parties agree to a different period or the buyer waives the opportunity in writing.
Trap: The key date is before 1978. The 10-day inspection opportunity belongs to a buyer and may be changed by agreement or waived in writing.
Source: Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (Title X)
5. Under the Florida Supreme Court decision in Johnson v. Davis, a seller of residential property must
- A.disclose only defects the buyer specifically asks about
- B.disclose known facts that materially affect the value of the property and are not readily observable to the buyer
- C.guarantee the home against all future defects
- D.disclose nothing, because Florida follows caveat emptor without exception
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. disclose known facts that materially affect the value of the property and are not readily observable to the buyer
Why B is correct: Johnson v. Davis established that a seller of residential property must disclose known facts that materially affect the value of the property and are not readily observable to the buyer. This duty applies even if the buyer does not ask.
Trap: The duty covers known, hidden, value-affecting defects. The seller cannot stay silent just because the buyer did not ask about a specific problem.
6. The Americans with Disabilities Act primarily requires that
- A.all private homes be made wheelchair accessible
- B.commercial properties and public accommodations be accessible to people with disabilities
- C.landlords pay for all tenant modifications in any housing
- D.only government buildings comply with accessibility rules
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. commercial properties and public accommodations be accessible to people with disabilities
Why B is correct: ADA Title III prohibits disability discrimination by places of public accommodation and imposes accessibility standards on new construction and alterations of public accommodations and commercial facilities. Ordinary residential dwelling units are primarily governed by fair housing accessibility, reasonable-accommodation, and reasonable-modification rules.
Trap: Do not apply ADA Title III to every private home. Separate fair housing rules govern most residential housing questions.
7. A person who believes they suffered housing discrimination may file an administrative complaint with HUD within
- A.30 days of the discriminatory act
- B.1 year of the discriminatory act
- C.5 years of the discriminatory act
- D.no deadline applies
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. 1 year of the discriminatory act
Why B is correct: A Fair Housing Act allegation generally must be filed with HUD within 1 year of the last alleged discriminatory act. A private federal civil action generally has a separate 2-year limitations period, subject to the statute's calculation rules.
Trap: For the exam, pair HUD with 1 year and a private federal lawsuit with 2 years.
8. A title company offers a real estate licensee a $100 gift card for every buyer referred for settlement services on a federally related mortgage loan. The arrangement most directly violates
- A.RESPA Section 8
- B.the Americans with Disabilities Act
- C.CERCLA
- D.the Florida homestead exemption
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. RESPA Section 8
Why A is correct: RESPA Section 8 and Regulation X prohibit giving or accepting a fee, kickback, or other thing of value under an agreement that settlement-service business will be referred. A referral by itself is not a compensable settlement service. Bona fide payment for actual goods, facilities, or distinct services is different.
Trap: Calling the payment a gift does not avoid RESPA. A thing of value tied to settlement-service referrals is the warning sign.
9. Under CERCLA, which party can be potentially responsible for hazardous-substance cleanup even without proof that the party acted negligently?
- A.Only the government agency that approved the site's zoning
- B.A current owner or operator of the contaminated facility
- C.Only the company that manufactured the hazardous substance
- D.No one unless a criminal conviction occurs first
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. A current owner or operator of the contaminated facility
Why B is correct: CERCLA, commonly called Superfund, can impose strict cleanup liability on categories of potentially responsible parties, including current owners and operators. Liability may also reach certain past owners or operators, arrangers, and transporters. Statutory defenses and liability protections exist, so careful environmental due diligence matters.
Trap: Strict liability does not require proof of negligence. Current ownership can place a party in a potentially responsible category.
Source: CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9607; EPA Superfund liability guidance
10. A Florida residential tenant moves out and the landlord does not intend to claim any of the security deposit. When must the landlord generally return it?
- A.Within 7 days after the tenant leaves
- B.Within 15 days after termination of the rental agreement
- C.Within 30 days after the tenant leaves
- D.At the end of the calendar year
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Within 15 days after termination of the rental agreement
Why B is correct: If the landlord does not intend to impose a claim, the security deposit and any required interest must generally be returned within 15 days after termination of the rental agreement. If the landlord does intend to claim, written notice must generally be provided within 30 days, and the tenant then has 15 days after receipt to object in writing.
Trap: Remember 15, 30, 15: return within 15 days if there is no claim; give claim notice within 30 days; tenant has 15 days after receiving it to object.
Source: F.S. 83.49(3), security deposits
11. Which factor is a prohibited basis under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B but is not one of the seven Fair Housing Act classes?
- A.Color
- B.Religion
- C.Marital status
- D.National origin
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Marital status
Why C is correct: ECOA's prohibited bases include marital status and age, provided the applicant can contract, in addition to race, color, religion, national origin, and sex. It also covers public-assistance income and good-faith exercise of rights under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. Marital status is not one of the seven federal Fair Housing Act classes.
Trap: Do not assume the Fair Housing Act and ECOA have identical lists. Marital status and age are the classic ECOA additions tested on licensing exams.
Frequently asked questions
Are these real Florida real estate exam questions?+
No. These are original Pass Florida scenarios built from the official exam outline. They are not copied or recalled Pearson VUE items. This federal and state law set was checked against current federal agency sources, the 2026 Florida Statutes, and Florida Supreme Court authority on August 31, 2026.
What are the seven protected classes under fair housing law?+
The federal Fair Housing Act protects race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. Familial status covers families with children under 18 and pregnant people. Florida's Fair Housing Act mirrors these seven classes.
What is the difference between steering and blockbusting?+
Steering is directing buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on a protected class. Blockbusting is scaring owners into selling by suggesting that members of a protected class are moving into the area. Both are illegal under the Fair Housing Act.
When does lead-based paint disclosure apply?+
The federal rule applies to most housing built before 1978. Sellers and lessors must disclose known information and provide the EPA pamphlet. Before a sale contract is binding, buyers generally receive a 10-day opportunity for a lead inspection or risk assessment unless the parties agree otherwise or the buyer waives it in writing.
What are the main federal mortgage-lending laws to separate on the exam?+
RESPA addresses settlement practices, disclosures, escrow administration, and prohibited referral payments. ECOA and Regulation B prohibit credit discrimination on specified bases. Truth in Lending and Regulation Z require standardized credit-cost disclosures such as the finance charge and annual percentage rate. One fact pattern may involve more than one law.
What does CERCLA mean for a real estate buyer?+
CERCLA can impose strict environmental-cleanup liability on categories that include current owners and operators. A buyer should not assume that lack of personal fault eliminates risk. Environmental due diligence may help a buyer evaluate contamination and preserve a statutory defense or protection where its requirements are met.
What are Florida's basic security-deposit deadlines after move-out?+
If there is no claim, the landlord generally returns the deposit within 15 days after termination. If there is a claim, the landlord generally provides written notice within 30 days. The tenant then has 15 days after receiving the notice to object in writing. F.S. 83.49 contains the complete conditions and exceptions.
What did Johnson v. Davis establish in Florida?+
When a residential seller knows of a fact that materially affects the property's value and is not readily observable or known to the buyer, the seller must disclose it. The duty is not a guarantee against every future defect; it concerns known, hidden, material facts.
Keep studying
Sources
- Florida DBPR Candidate Information Booklet
- HUD, Fair Housing Act rights and obligations
- HUD, Fair Housing Act as amended
- F.S. 760.23, Florida Fair Housing Act
- EPA, lead-based paint disclosure rule
- EPA, CERCLA Superfund liability
- CFPB Regulation X, RESPA referral payments
- CFPB Regulation B, ECOA prohibited bases
- DOJ, ADA Title III
- F.S. 83.49, security deposits and advance rent
- Florida Supreme Court record, Johnson v. Davis
- 42 U.S.C. 1982, equal rights in property