DeSantis says Florida House is standing in way of condo reform

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that he and the Florida Senate are ready and willing to address a financial crisis for condo owners created by a new law that aims to prevent another Surfside tower collapse — but said state House leaders are blocking meaningful action.

“We’ve shared ideas with the Legislature. I know the Florida Senate has solicited ideas,” DeSantis said in a Winter Haven news conference. “My sense is that the House is not really in a position where they think anything needs to be done.”

DeSantis has called a special session for the week of Jan. 27 to address a series of issues, including complaints from condo owners that a 2022 law passed in response to the collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside has led to onerous maintenance costs and special assessments for building repairs. But what the Legislature does during the session is entirely up to them, and House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton have said it would be better to wait to tackle the issues in March, when lawmakers are scheduled to hold their regular session and will have more information to work with.

Perez, a Miami Republican, sponsored the House version of SB-4D, the 2022 law passed after the 12-story Surfside condo tower crumbled to the ground the year before, killing 98 people. Asked for a response to DeSantis’ criticism Wednesday, Perez reiterated past remarks on why he is against a special session on condominium reform, saying the “question shouldn’t be ‘when’” the Legislature acts on the condo safety law but what members will propose as a solution to the cost for owners.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2025/01/15/desantis-says-florida-house-is-standing-way-condo-reform/

DeSantis: "I don't have a plan to reform the condo legislation. You do it. I'm just the governor, it's not my responsibility."