The Brief

- A Florida lawmaker has filed a bill that would strip condo associations of access to state-run Citizens Property Insurance if they don't comply with new building safety laws.

On June 24, 2021, a 12-story condo building in the Miami suburb of Surfside collapsed , killing 98 people.

Since then, Florida lawmakers have taken steps in hopes of preventing future tragedies, including requiring most condo buildings taller than three stories to complete a safety study by the end of 2024, along with setting aside reserves to ensure the structural integrity of their buildings in the future.

However, the state has found that more than half of those buildings haven't submitted proof showing these steps were completed.

Now, Republican State Rep. Vicki Lopez of Miami is proposing consequences, including kicking non-compliant buildings off their Citizens coverage.

"We’re not in the business of bailing people out who did not do the right thing from the get-go. In addition to that, well, because it’s your tax money, by the way. It’d be you bailing them out," Lopez said during a recent summit for the Miami Association of Realtors.

Many condo associations and residents were upset last year when state lawmakers refused to extend the inspection deadline any further, saying they’re being asked to put up too much money. Some owners have even said they've been hit with five or six-figure assessments.

Lopez and other supporters of her bill, though, say those residents have options, like borrowing against the equity in their home or taking advantage of Miami-Dade’s interest-free loan program specifically set up to help with assessment fees.

The bill, HB 913, will be considered during the annual legislative session, which begins next Tuesday, March 4.

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