Deadline expires for people linked to enemy countries to register Florida property

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The deadline has passed for people linked to foreign “countries of concern” to register their Florida property holdings.

A new law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, requires that a foreign principal must register a property interest owned before July 1, 2023, by Dec. 31, 2023.

The law notably prohibits Chinese government agencies, businesses and citizens from owning land Florida.

Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, and Rep. David Borrero, R-Sweetwater, carried the legislation, which was spearheaded by Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.

The law also ensures that those with principal interests in designated countries cannot obtain property within 10 miles of military bases or other “critical infrastructure facility” in most circumstances.

DeSantis previously rolled out the SecureFlorida Portal for registration in November.

Those who failed to register could be fined $1,000 per day until the registration is made.

“Protecting Floridians and Florida’s infrastructure from agents like the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign adversaries is important to our state’s security,” DeSantis said previously.

DeSantis said he is “proud” to have signed the “strongest legislation in the nation to fight back against foreign malign influence.”

Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly said under DeSantis’s leadership, Florida is “in the driver’s seat and our Freedom First policies are setting the stage for a robust and efficient supply chain.”