In the most recent endeavor to reform the laws that regulate Florida’s frequently troubled community associations, Gov. Ron DeSantis has now signed a bill on Friday that is designed to grant condo owners additional rights.
The new law, known as “Condo 3.0,” mandates that board members complete educational requirements, mandates that additional condominium communities establish web pages for their members, restricts the ability of boards to suppress dissent, and grants the state increased authority to investigate abuses.
Condo owners in Florida have frequently encountered frustration in their efforts to compel the state to investigate complaints of corruption, unfair governance, and other violations.
This is due to the fact that the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation was previously prohibited from investigating their complaints by law.
A measure that would reduce the susceptibility of new board members to manipulation by outside vendors, attorneys, or their own residents is the requirement that they complete four hours of education on the operation of a condominium association.
Condominiums with 25 units or more are required to establish websites that contain documents such as budgets, bylaws, and vendor contracts.
Condominiums with a minimum of 150 units were previously subject to this requirement. The law mandates that boards convene four times annually, an increase from the current two.
Boards are prohibited from retaliating against dissenters by launching defamation lawsuits.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel published a series last year that emphasized the use of defamation litigation to suppress dissent in the context of condo and HOA abuses.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation will be granted additional authority to investigate condo board misconduct and will receive funding to employ additional personnel.
Approximately half of Floridians reside in neighborhoods governed by homeowners’ associations, as proprietors or tenants of condo buildings, or under the authority of community associations.
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