Florida State Legislators are persistently urging Governor Ron DeSantis to offer his support and call for a special legislative session to tackle the newly enacted Condo Safety law. This law has imposed a significant financial strain on condominium owners throughout the state.
Gov. DeSantis was asked during a recent press conference in Aventura if he would be open to calling for a special session to amend the law.
DeSantis argues that although the law was intended to be beneficial, it has placed considerable financial and logistical burdens on condominium associations and homeowners.
“The Legislature has plans to make this more practical for individuals,” DeSantis expressed. He further added, “Initially, it was an immense tragedy.” DeSantis continued, “Within 24 hours, the media was urging us to implement a new law, but we didn’t even have all the details yet. We simply requested some time to gather the necessary information.”
During his speech, DeSantis addressed the potential “unintended consequences” that may arise as a result of the law, emphasizing that lawmakers will be responsible for dealing with these challenges.
Only DeSantis has the authority to request a special legislative session.
DeSantis emphasized the potential for unintended consequences and stressed the importance of the Legislature listening to their constituents. He further expressed the desire for everyone’s safety.
Condominium owners are facing hefty special assessments to fulfill the legal obligation of fiduciary responsibilities.
Several Republican and Democratic lawmakers, who requested anonymity, expressed their openness to a special session that would address any deficiencies in the law, according to conversations with The Floridian.
According to Sen. Shevrin Jones, the state legislature must explore all possible solutions to tackle the financial challenges caused by the law.
“I am willing to explore any and all potential avenues to collaborate and provide assistance to families in Florida, particularly those in my district. I have consistently emphasized that this is not a matter of partisanship and that we should explore every possible solution,” Senator Jones stated in a statement to The Floridian.
In a recent interview with The Floridian, Rep. Alex Rizo (R) expressed his support for making adjustments to the law. He revealed that he had discussed the issue with the DeSantis administration, confirming that Governor DeSantis was indeed willing to address the law during a legislative session.
The Opposition
State Senator Jason Pizzo, who opposes changes in the condo law, holds the belief that condo owners are simply reluctant to bear the financial burden of paying assessments.
According to Senator Pizzo’s statement to The Floridian, the Florida House of Representatives turned down all the proposals made by him and his fellow lawmakers to assist condo owners in meeting the assessment requirements.
Senator Pizzo highlighted the recent measures introduced by the Senate that allow for alternative methods of funding reserves. These include contingent special assessments, a glide path, and lines of credit. According to Sen. Pizzo, the need for reserves is urgent, as time and deferred maintenance on physical structures cannot wait for the preferred schedule of owners.
Pizzo states that the majority of condominium owners, approximately 90 percent, are above the age of 30. Additionally, he highlights that most of these owners have 100% equity in their homes.
Pizzo is of the opinion that homeowners can easily cover the assessments due to the equity they possess.
Pizzo stated that instead of collecting 50-70 cents per square foot over the past decade, condos have been waiving reserves and artificially suppressing association fees, which has negatively impacted current owners. He believes that the focus should be on financing rather than pretending that critical maintenance issues exist in isolation. Pizzo emphasizes that buildings are not static and the safety of people’s lives should take precedence over the tough love approach taken by the legislature.
DeSantis is willing to consider legislative proposals that aim to assist homeowners in meeting their financial obligations under the newly enacted law. However, there has been no indication from him or his executive office regarding the possibility of convening a special session shortly.