Florida Condo 3.0 Bill Tackles Safety, Board Education

The Florida Condo 3.0 bill seeks to tighten regulations for condominiums. After the Surfside condominium collapse in 2021, state legislators continue to strive for safety and accountability.

What Is the Florida Condo 3.0 Bill?

The Florida Condo 3.0 bill aims to fortify the state’s condominium laws and ensure the accountability of condo board members. It is on the brink of a House floor vote, gaining unanimous support from the State Administration and Technology Appropriations Subcommittee. The bill (HB 1021) addresses deficiencies exposed by the Surfside condo collapse in June 2021.

The proposed legislation, described as a “game-changer,” seeks to empower the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). It aims to accomplish this by removing a hindering sentence in the Florida Statutes.

During a panel discussion, Spencer Hennings, Florida’s former Condominium Ombudsman, highlighted the need for enforcement. He emphasized the current limitations that regulatory agencies face.

HB 1021 and SB 1178

HB 1021, along with its Senate counterpart (SB 1178) by Sen. Jennifer Bradley, expands condo record transparency requirements. It also introduces criminal penalties for board members violating voting, inspection, and emolument regulations. Furthermore, it enhances board member education guidelines.

The bill clarifies hurricane protection responsibilities and revises anti-SLAPP laws to prevent condo board members from using association funds for defamation and libel actions.

With 694 condo buildings in her district, Rep. Vicki Lopez emphasizes the need for the bill based on daily feedback from condo owners. The Subcommittee’s budget chief, Bruce Topp, played a crucial role in negotiations with DBPR to align the bill effectively.

Lopez approved two proposed amendments — the first addresses jurisdictional language. The second allocates over $7.4 million to support DBPR operations and hire 65 full-time employees for law enforcement.

Well-Rounded Support

Support for HB 1021 extends beyond lawmakers, with AARP Florida and representatives like Rep. Kelly Skidmore and Rep. Cyndi Stevens endorsing the measure.

Another related bill, HB 1029, which establishes a condo-focused pilot program within the My Safe Florida Home grant program, also gained unanimous support. The proposed program enables condo owners to access grants for single-family houses and townhomes.

As the legislation progresses, it signals a significant step towards addressing longstanding concerns and ensuring the well-being of condominium residents in Florida.