PRESS RELEASES

Florida DBPR Provides Resources to Protect Florida Businesses and Consumers Ahead of 2025 Hurricane Season

May 16, 2025

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is providing resources to protect and educate Florida businesses and consumers ahead of the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The Atlantic Hurricane Season begins on June 1, 2025, and ends on November 30, 2025.

“DBPR is proud to provide free resources for Floridians as they prepare for the upcoming hurricane season,” said DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin. “Bad actors often use disasters as an opportunity to take advantage of Floridians, and we are committed to equipping businesses and consumers with the tools they need to protect themselves. As we approach another active hurricane season, Florida business owners and consumers are encouraged to utilize these resources to be prepared ahead of potential storms.”

VERIFY A LICENSE
Unlicensed contractors often lack the required training, experience, and insurance which can expose homeowners and businesses to poor workmanship and potential financial loss. Florida homeowners and business owners in search of professionals to complete work on residential or commercial properties should always verify a professional’s license using DBPR’s License Verification Tool at MyFloridaLicense.com.

RECOGNIZE AND REPORT SCAMS
Florida homeowners and business owners should be aware of the following unlicensed activity warning signs:

• Offers with unusually low prices.
• Requests for large, upfront cash payments.
• Lack of written contract
• Refusal to pull permits or requests for the homeowner to personally pull permits for a project.
• The use of P.O. boxes rather than physical addresses.
• Unmarked vehicles with out-of-state plates.

Floridians are encouraged to report any suspicions of unlicensed contracting activity to DBPR through the Unlicensed Activity Hotline at (866) 532-1440, by visiting MyFloridaLicense.com, or through the DBPR Mobile App.

Industry partners can aid DBPR’s mission to combat unlicensed activity by using DBPR’s Unlicensed Activity Toolkit to educate their communities. The toolkit is available for download here.

DBPR’S DISASTER CONTRACTORS NETWORK
Established by DBPR, the Disaster Contractors Network (DCN) is a free resource connecting homeowners with licensed contractors and suppliers for emergency repairs. Anyone seeking repair services can browse a directory of skilled professionals in their area. Register in five simple steps to access the directory for free here.

Florida-licensed contractors and suppliers can register with DCN here to be connected with homeowners in search of licensed services.

Florida DBPR Announces More Than 240 Arrests Through Initiative to Stop the Sale of Harmful Hemp Products to Minors 

February 7, 2025

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) announced it has made 244 arrests through its proactive initiative to stop the sale of harmful hemp products to minors – further reinforcing the state’s dedication to protecting young Floridians from the serious health risks hemp products can have on developing brains.

“Thanks to Governor DeSantis, Florida has strong protections in place to prevent the sale of these harmful drugs to children and DBPR is proud to support his commitment,” said DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin. “With more than 200 arrests in just a few months, it is clear that this proactive initiative has had a profound impact on safeguarding Florida’s youth from the harmful effects of hemp products, and we look forward to keeping the momentum going.”

In June 2023, Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1676, which instituted a series of consumer protections related to the sale of hemp products. Florida law now prohibits the sale of hemp products to anyone under 21, prohibits the sale or distribution of hemp products found to be mislabeled or attractive to children, requires hemp processing facilities to meet food safety and sanitation standards, and provides a potency cap on products containing hemp extract.

In July 2024, the division began including hemp in its age-restricted product operations to identify the sale of hemp products to individuals under the age of 21. Establishments involved in these investigations include locations accessible to minors like gas stations, grocery stores, and smoke shops. To date, all 244 cases have been referred to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for further action.

For more information on DBPR’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, visit MyFloridaLicense.com.

Florida DBPR Highlights Continued Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking in Recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

January 10, 2025

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) recognizes January 11, 2025, as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day and highlights the agency’s continued commitment to combating human trafficking through legislative support and proactive law enforcement investigations.

“Florida is a law-and-order state under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, and we continue to take powerful and impactful strides to root out and prevent human trafficking,” said DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin. “Florida’s law enforcement personnel are empowered to take decisive action against these heinous crimes and raise awareness across the state through proactive enforcement and education efforts and nation-leading legislation.”

As the licensing entity for hundreds of thousands of public establishments in Florida, DBPR prioritizes its role in anti-human trafficking training, education and enforcement.

Key Efforts Include:

Law Enforcement to Combat Human Trafficking

• Three DBPR personnel were sworn-in to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking Task Force, reinforcing the Department’s collaborative efforts in this critical mission.

• DBPR’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) Bureau of Law Enforcement conducted several undercover investigations throughout the state in 2024, uncovering vital information about the trafficking of multiple individuals, who were subsequently rescued and referred to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further support.

• The Division continues to conduct proactive operations to identify and address instances of human trafficking. In Miami, DBPR has partnered with local law enforcement agencies, the State Attorney’s Office, and HSI to inspect multiple venues. These ongoing investigations are expected to result in multiple additional arrests.

Education and Training

• All 72,000-plus DBPR-licensed public lodging establishments are mandated to deliver annual human trafficking awareness training to employees in housekeeping and front desk roles. The Division conducts thorough inspections to ensure compliance with training protocols, reporting procedures, and the display of human trafficking awareness signage featuring the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline and text numbers.

• In 2024, DBPR collected more than $45,000 in fines from public lodging establishments that failed to comply with these statutorily required anti-human trafficking requirements. All funds were transferred to the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking (the “Alliance”) to use in furtherance of its mission.

• The Department implemented HB 7063 (passed in 2024) to update anti-human trafficking requirements for all public lodging establishments to ensure such facilities are equipped to report suspected incidents to law enforcement efficiently.

• DBPR’s law enforcement officers continually complete advanced training to further heighten their abilities to detect and investigate human trafficking crimes. ABT has completed field staff training sessions in partnership with the Alliance to empower personnel to detect and report suspected trafficking incidents during inspections.

• In 2024, more than 73 percent of DBPR staff completed the Alliance’s free one-hour training.

If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in an activity and cannot leave, whether it is prostitution, housework, farm work, factory work, retail work, restaurant work, or any other activity, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888-373-7888 or text INFO or HELP to 233-733 to access help and services.

For more information about DBPR’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, visit MyFloridaLicense.com.