Tallahassee, Florida – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he has signed an executive order suspending all evictions and foreclosures in the state for 45 days amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Gov. DeSantis made the announcement in a press conference Thursday afternoon.

(Emergency Management – COVID-19 – Mortgage Foreclosure and Eviction Relief)

STATE OF FLORIDA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-94

(Emergency Management – COVID-19 – Mortgage Foreclosure and Eviction Relief)

WHEREAS, Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among humans through respiratory transmission and presents with symptoms similar to those of influenza; and

WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, I issued Executive Order number 20-51 directing the Florida Department of Health to issue a Public Health Emergency; and

WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, the State Surgeon General and State Health Officer declared a Public Health Emergency exists in the State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-52 declaring a state of emergency for the entire State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020, President Donald J. Trump announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) authorized the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) to implement an immediate foreclosure and eviction moratorium for FHA-insured single-family mortgages for 60 days due to the COVID-19 emergency; and

WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to suspend foreclosures and evictions for Enterprise-backed single-family mortgages for at least 60 days due to the COVID-19 emergency; and

WHEREAS, I find that this emergency has impacted the ability of many Floridians with single-family mortgages to make their mortgage payments; and

WHEREAS, I find that providing targeted, temporary relief to Floridians with single-family mortgages is in the best interest of the state and its people; and

WHEREAS, I find that this emergency has impacted the ability of many Floridians with residential tenancies to make their rent payments; and

WHEREAS, I find that providing targeted, temporary relief to Floridians with residential tenancies is in the best interest of the state and its people; and

WHEREAS, as Governor, I am responsible for meeting the dangers presented to this state and its people by this emergency.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section (1)(a) of the Florida Constitution, Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order to take immediate effect:

Section 1. I hereby suspend and toll any statute providing for a mortgage foreclosure cause of action under Florida law for 45 days from the date of this Executive Order, including any extensions.

Section 2. I hereby suspend and toll any statute providing for an eviction cause of action under Florida law solely as it relates to non-payment of rent by residential tenants due to the COVID-19 emergency for 45 days from the date of this Executive Order, including any extensions.

Section 3. Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed as relieving an individual from their obligation to make mortgage payments or rent payments.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a stay-at-home order Wednesday, which will go into effect Thursday, just after midnight. The goal of the measure is to keep folks home and help stop the spread of COVID-19.

(COVID-19 Emergency Order – Reemployment Assistance Program)

STATE OF FLORIDA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-93

(COVID-19 Emergency Order – Reemployment Assistance Program)

WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-51 directing the Florida Department of Health to issue a Public Health Emergency; and

WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, the State Surgeon General and State Health Officer declared a Public Health Emergency exists in the State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-52 declaring a state of emergency for the entire State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, President Donald J. Trump and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) issued the “15 Days to Slow the Spread” guidance advising individuals to adopt far-reaching social distancing measures, such as avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people, and in states with evidence of community spread, recommending restrictions to certain establishments conducive to mass gatherings and congregations; and

WHEREAS, on March 29, 2020, the President extended such guidance to be in effect until April 30, 2020 and along with the White House Coronavirus Task Force urged Americans to continue to adhere to the guidelines and expand community mitigation efforts; and

WHEREAS, multiple Florida counties and local governments have ordered certain business closures and restricted public access outside of the home; and

WHEREAS, on April 1, 2020, in concert with the efforts of President Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and based on guidance provided by Florida Surgeon General and State Health Officer, Dr. Scott Rivkees, I directed all persons in Florida to limit their movements and personal interactions outside of home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities; and

              WHEREAS, many Florida businesses have been negatively impacted by the spread of COVID-19 and the precautionary measures taken by the nation in response to COVID-19; and

              WHEREAS, thousands of Floridians are seeking help from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (“DEO”) Reemployment Assistance Program leading to significantly greater demand upon DEO’s personnel, infrastructure, technology, and resources; and

              WHEREAS, I have already directed DEO to work in concert with the federal government and other state agencies to pursue all measures necessary to help Florida’s citizens during these challenging times.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority  vested  in  me by  Article IV, Section  (l)(a) of the Florida Constitution  Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order to take immediate effect:

Section 1.           Personnel Support for Reemployment Assistance

I hereby direct all executive agency heads, in consultation with the Department of Management Services (“DMS”), to identify and deploy executive agency personnel to assist DEO with their reemployment assistance efforts, including call center operations and other citizen services.  In order to improve the operation and responsiveness of DEO’s reemployment assistance efforts, assigned personnel shall, to the extent reasonably possible, cease their current governmental responsibilities and fully devote their services to the DEO program.  All deployed personnel shall maintain current benefits and salary and DEO shall determine how best to quickly utilize these employees to serve Floridians negatively impacted by COVID-19.

Section 2.           Training

Training shall be streamlined and administered quickly and for a short duration so that agency personnel can be deployed as soon as possible.

Section 3.           Reemployment Applications

In light of the unprecedented and increasing call volume at DEO’s reemployment assistance call center during the COVID-19 statewide emergency, DEO shall pursue, in addition to internet and telephonic reemployment applications, new or alternative forms and methods for receiving applications, including making paper applications readily available on DEO’s website and throughout the state at each of the 24 Local Workforce Development Boards.  I hereby direct CareerSource Florida and the Local Workforce Development Boards to assist DEO with dissemination and collection of paper applications and receiving claimant calls as needed.  I further direct DEO to identify a third-party company to assist with collection of physical applications and delivery to DEO.  DEO shall immediately establish a secure system through which applications may be efficiently submitted for organized processing and review.

              Section 4.           Emergency Procurement

DEO shall immediately procure additional capacity, software, technology and/or other resources as needed to ensure the state’s reemployment assistance call center, website and staff can accommodate the increasing volume of applications and queries.

              Section 5.           Implementation

              DMS and DEO shall supplement and provide guidance as necessary to implement this order.

              Section 6.           Duration

              This directive shall remain in effect until the expiration of Executive Order 20-52 including any extensions.