Florida Senate - 2024 SB 908 By Senator Perry 9-01408-24 2024908__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to construction liens; amending s. 3 713.20, F.S.; requiring, rather than authorizing, that 4 waivers and releases for liens be substantially 5 similar to statutory forms; providing that lien 6 waivers and lien releases that are not substantially 7 similar to the statutory forms are not enforceable; 8 providing an effective date. 9 10 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11 12 Section 1. Subsections (4), (5), and (8) of section 713.20, 13 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 14 713.20 Waiver or release of liens.— 15 (4) When a lienor is required to execute a waiver or 16 release of lien in exchange for, or to induce payment of, a 17 progress payment, the waiver or release mustmaybe in 18 substantially the following form: 19 20 WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIEN 21 UPON PROGRESS PAYMENT 22 23 The undersigned lienor, in consideration of the sum of 24 $...., hereby waives and releases its lien and right to claim a 25 lien for labor, services, or materials furnished through 26 ...(insert date)... to ...(insert the name of your customer)... 27 on the job of ...(insert the name of the owner)... to the 28 following property: 29 30 ...(description of property)... 31 32 This waiver and release does not cover any retention or labor, 33 services, or materials furnished after the date specified. 34 35 DATED on ...., ...(year).... ...(Lienor)... 36 By: ........ 37 38 (5) When a lienor is required to execute a waiver or 39 release of lien in exchange for, or to induce payment of, the 40 final payment, the waiver and release mustmaybe in 41 substantially the following form: 42 43 WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIEN 44 UPON FINAL PAYMENT 45 46 The undersigned lienor, in consideration of the final 47 payment in the amount of $........, hereby waives and releases 48 its lien and right to claim a lien for labor, services, or 49 materials furnished to ...(insert the name of your customer)... 50 on the job of ...(insert the name of the owner)... to the 51 following described property: 52 53 ...(description of property)... 54 55 DATED on ...., ...(year).... ...(Lienor)... 56 By: ........ 57 58 (8) A lien waiver or lien release that is not substantially 59 similar to the forms in subsections (4) and (5) is not 60 enforceable in accordance with the terms of the lien waiver or 61 lien release. 62 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.