Florida legislators are moving ahead with proposals designed to ease the financial burden on condominium owners, who are facing steep fee increases tied to post-Surfside safety regulations.

“What I will fight for is to make sure that condo owners see a safe future in their homes at a cost they can afford,” said Sen. Jennifer Bradley, a Republican from Fleming Island and one of the lawmakers leading the charge.

On Tuesday, a Senate committee approved Bradley’s bill, SB 1742, while a House panel advanced its counterpart, HB 913. Both measures received unanimous support.

The spike in costs is largely attributed to safety mandates introduced after the 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, which killed 98 people. The new rules require mandatory inspections, necessary repairs, and the establishment of reserve funds to cover future structural needs — all of which have driven up condo association fees, especially for residents of aging buildings.

In a sign of growing attention to the issue, Gov. Ron DeSantis last week praised the Senate version of the bill but criticized the House version, claiming it would add more financial pressure on residents.

“People are hurting,” DeSantis said. “People need relief. They are being put in predicaments through no fault of their own.”

DeSantis highlighted how the Senate plan promotes transparency and accountability among condo associations and allows more flexibility in managing reserve funds — including provisions that let associations invest those funds to reduce the financial load on owners.

Another key part of the Senate bill gives condo boards the option to pause or reduce reserve contributions for up to two years after an inspection, directing funds instead toward immediate repair needs.

Meanwhile, the House version was amended Tuesday to strip out a provision that would have blocked state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corporation from covering non-compliant condos — a measure Bradley opposed. The revised bill also broadened the use of credit lines to help associations fund their reserves.

“This, I think, is going to be a landmark piece of legislation to address all of the financial issues that we have heard about from our constituents,” said Rep. Vicki Lopez, a Republican from Miami and a lead sponsor of the House bill.

DeSantis’ office declined to comment on the updated House proposal.

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