SB 1090 creates a new consumer-protection section in Florida law aimed at online sellers and online marketplaces that are connected to certain designated “foreign countries of concern,” including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, the Maduro regime in Venezuela, and Syria. The bill requires online marketplaces to collect and record an online seller’s IP address to help verify location, and to provide consumers with a clear disclosure of the seller’s or platform’s general location before a transaction if the seller or marketplace is located in, conducts business from, or fulfills orders from one of those countries.
The bill also requires online marketplaces to place proceeds from sales involving Florida consumers and sellers tied to a foreign country of concern into a U.S.-based escrow account for at least 120 days before transferring the funds to the seller. Violations are treated as violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, giving the state an enforcement mechanism through existing consumer-protection law. The act is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would add a new section to Florida Statutes, s. 501.174, and expand the state’s consumer-protection and trade-practices framework to regulate certain online marketplace transactions with foreign-linked sellers. It would impose new compliance duties on online marketplaces operating in Florida, including location verification, pre-sale disclosure, and escrow handling of transaction proceeds, while potentially affecting online sellers, marketplace operators, and Florida consumers who buy from sellers associated with designated foreign countries of concern.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of committee transcripts or recorded votes, the available context suggests the bill is framed as a consumer-protection and transparency measure rather than a broad market restriction. The sponsor’s approach indicates concern about foreign-linked online commerce and the need for disclosure and fund-holding safeguards. No formal opposition or support is documented in the provided materials, so the overall sentiment cannot be measured from debate or voting history.
Contention
The main points of contention likely center on the bill’s scope and operational burden. Online marketplaces may object to the requirement to collect IP addresses, determine seller location, provide country-of-concern disclosures, and hold proceeds in escrow for 120 days, all of which could increase compliance costs and complicate cross-border e-commerce. Another likely issue is the breadth of the “foreign country of concern” definition, which includes both governments and entities under significant control of those governments, potentially raising questions about enforcement, accuracy of location verification, and whether the measure could affect legitimate sellers or platforms with indirect ties to the listed ქვეყნies.