legislative lens
Matt Kuisle
Connie Morrow
The Community Association’ s Institute’ s Florida Legislative Alliance( CAI-FLA) was formed in 1987 to provide perspective on how proposed legislation could impact people living and working in community associations. CAI-FLA is comprised of a diverse group of homeowner leaders, community managers and business partners representing all parts of the state. Each of FL’ s 8 CAI chapters nominates 2 delegates plus 4 at large members for a total of 20 delegates. This year, the chair of the Alliance is Chuck Schumacher, CMCA, AMS, CAM, a community manager from Naples. The two West Florida Chapter Delegates are Matt Kuisle, a Reserve Specialist from Tampa, and Connie Morrow, a homeowner leader from Bradenton.
2025 Legislative Session Update
As the 2025 legislative session unfolds in Florida, community associations are once again in the spotlight. As of the print deadline in mid-April for this publication, nothing has passed both chambers but there are still a few weeks left in the legislative session and CAI’ s Florida legislative Alliance( CAI-FlA) is following and providing input on a wide range of bills. From pool safety rules and insurance reforms to increased transparency and board member responsibilities, Florida lawmakers are paying close attention to the residential association landscape and have proposed significant legislation that could affect community associations and the daily lives of residents across the state. Here are just a few of the bills that CAI-FlA is following this session.
HB 137 / SB 120 – Homeowners ' Association Ombudsman and Access to Records
These identical bills expand homeowner rights to access association records and request assistance from a newly established ombudsman. Together, they signal a broader push toward empowering residents and improving accountability.
SB 368 / HB 983 – Community Associations
These proposed bills aim to strengthen oversight of condominium and homeowners associations. SB 368 establishes a pilot program to investigate fraud and corruption. HB 983 introduces significant revisions to the governance and operational procedures of homeowners ' associations, including changes to the election of board directors and handling of director recalls. It mandates the Office of the Condominium Ombudsman to monitor director elections upon a petition and places the financial burden of such monitoring on the association. The legislation also establishes a framework for regulating recreational covenants, ensuring transparency and setting limitations on increases in amenity fees charged to parcel owners by private amenities owners. New requirements for disclosure and distribution of documents to potential property buyers are introduced to protect consumer interests and provide clarity on obligations related to recreational covenants.
HB 393 / SB 592 – My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program
looks to continue and expand the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program to certain structures & buildings on condominium property; prohibits condominium association from applying for hurricane mitigation inspection or mitigation grant under pilot program unless certain association property or condominium property is established as common element & association has complied with specified requirements; revises approval requirements to receive mitigation grant; removes amount of grant funding for certain projects; revises improvements for which mitigation grant may be used; requires improvements to be identified in final hurricane mitigation inspection in order for association to receive grant funds; requires
14 community • June 2025 WWW. CAIWeSTFlORIDA. ORg