Governor Ron DeSantis signed nine bills late last month, including new requirements for Florida’s nearly 50,000 homeowner associations (HOAs).
According to a press release issued by the governor’s office, DeSantis signed the acts on May 28. They include HB 59—Provision of Homeowners’ Association Rules and Covenants; CS/HB 141—Economic Development; CS/CS/CS/HB 149—Continuing Contracts; CS/HB 293—Hurricane Protections for Homeowners’ Associations; CS/HB 481—Building Construction Regulations and System Warranties; CS/HB 535—Low-voltage Alarm System Projects; CS/HB 705—Public Works Projects; CS/CS/SB 556—Protection of Specified Adults; and CS/SB 644—Rural Emergency Hospitals.
According to the Florida State Senate website, HB 59 requires Florida HOAs to provide copies of the association's rules and covenants—in print or digital format—to every member before October 1, 2024, as well as every new member moving forward. It also mandates that HOAs provide members with a copy of the rules and covenants when they are updated. Another provision authorizes HOAs to post a copy of or a link to its rules and covenants on its official website.
"With the signing of HB 59, we further establish transparency to residents of HOAs. Too often we hear stories of residents being unaware of changes made in their community and their accidental violation of rules. This simple measure will now work to pre-emptively alleviate these misunderstandings and engage residents in their communities," Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando), the bill’s sponsor, stated in a press release.
According to Community Associations Institute data, Florida has 49,800 HOAs, second only to California. The state’s HOAs encompass more than 9.5 million property owners.