A bill providing financial support to condominium owners who have suffered from high fees following structural reforms after Surfside has been endorsed by the Florida House of Representatives, achieving a remarkable majority of 113 votes in favor and only 2 against.
The proposal, sponsored by Miami-Dade Republican Representative Vicki Lopez, introduces several important changes aimed at alleviating financial pressure on residents. Many of them have been forced to sell their homes or leave their homes due to the inability to cover recent expenses.
After the vote concluded, the representative spoke to Telemundo on the issue. "This, I believe, will be historic legislation to address all the financial issues we've heard from our constituents," she said.
One of the benefits of this reform is allowing condominium associations access to credit instead of being required to hold cash reserves. The state's My Safe Florida Home program is also being expanded to include all homeowners. Electronic voting will be authorized for primary elections, taking into account that homeowners sometimes do not permanently reside in the condominiums.
The motivation behind this law stems from the economic impact resulting from regulations put in place after the collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside, a tragic incident that left 98 people dead in 2021.
In contrast, Florida authorities strengthened safety regulations. They established mandatory structural inspections and required reserve studies for all older buildings, which undoubtedly impacts associations' expenses.
“Many of these homeowners don't have a mortgage, have lived in their homes for decades, and are now forced to sell or leave because they can't pay,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is promoting measures to mitigate this problem. “People need relief. They're being put in difficult situations through no fault of their own,” the Republican politician emphasized.
On the other hand, the State Senate promoted two key bills: SB 1742 and SB 368, the latter sponsored by Senator Ileana García, also a Republican from Miami-Dade. The Florida Senate initiatives emphasize the importance of oversight of state institutions and transparency within the various associations.
Among the key elements of SB 368 is the creation of the Economic Crimes, Fraud, and Corruption Condominium Investigation Pilot Program, attached to the Department of Legal Affairs. This program also includes the option to contract with private companies with expertise in fraud and irregularities detection.
It assigns government powers for auditing and issuing subpoenas, as well as strengthening the role of the ombudsman. It allows for fidelity policies that protect owners against potential dishonest acts. It also establishes the creation by 2027 of a digital and public database containing essential information about each organization, including leadership, organizational reports, funding, and other information.
The initiative could be extended until October 2030 unless the state legislature decides otherwise. Although both chambers agree on the urgency of reform, their proposals differ on key elements.
The Senate proposes pausing reserve funding for a period of two years after a review, in order to allocate resources for urgent repairs. In contrast, the bill passed in the House has eliminated a provision that prevented Citizens Insurance from providing insurance to associations that do not comply with regulations established after the Surfside collapse.
DeSantis was clear in expressing his doubts about the Chamber's initiative, emphasizing that: "It does not hold boards more accountable, makes removing members more complicated and expensive, and allows important decisions to be made without the approval of the owners."
In his view, this favors private interests, such as builders and lawyers, to the detriment of residents, especially the most vulnerable. He also expressed concern about the fragility of electronic voting systems that could be manipulated internally.
The chambers now need to reach an agreement on their criteria before this proposal is passed into law. If this is achieved, Florida would significantly advance toward a more equitable, sustainable, and clear approach to community living within condominiums.
My goal is to ensure that condominium owners have the certainty of a stable future in their homes at an affordable price, concluded Senator Jennifer Bradley, one of the main sponsors of this initiative.
