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Four PACE providers urge workshop after county raises concerns; commissioners request briefing on new state law
Summary
Multiple PACE providers urged the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners to delay any immediate action on PACE activity and to instead hold a workshop explaining the changes in Florida law (SB 770) and how providers comply with new consumer protections.
Multiple residential PACE providers and industry representatives spoke during public comment as the board addressed an agenda item (K1) raising concerns about PACE activity and consumer protection. Speakers from several PACE providers including Fortify Financial, Home Run Financing, Ygrene and Renew Financial urged the board to postpone any punitive steps and to convene a workshop so staff and providers can explain how the industry operates under the updated 2024 state law (SB 770), which tightened consumer protections and reporting requirements.
Mark Scheffel (Ygrene), Rachel Hobbs (Home Run Financing), Matthew Choi (Renew Financial) and a representative from Fortify Financial asked the board to hear a presentation summarizing the 2024 statutory changes, new confirmation‑of‑terms procedures, ability‑to‑pay checks, and new reporting and oversight assigned by state law to the Auditor General and other bodies. Several lenders said SB 770 raises penalties for bad actors and imposes new underwriting steps that curtail the most problematic sales tactics that have caused complaints elsewhere.
One local speaker told commissioners he had fielded homeowner complaints about a specific PACE case and described a family whose property faced a tax deed sale; that single case prompted Commissioners (including Jeff Kennard) to ask for more information and for a county‑level workshop. Board members requested staff arrange a briefing and workshop to review the law’s protections, provider practices, local complaint response procedures and whether local interlocal agreements or ordinance revisions are needed.
Why it matters: PACE financing provides an accessible mechanism for homeowners to finance efficiency, resilience and other home improvements, but prior versions of the program have generated consumer complaints in some states and jurisdictions. Florida lawmakers in 2024 enacted SB 770 to standardize consumer protections; providers told the board they are already operating under the new rules and urged a local discussion rather than immediate restriction.
What’s next: Commissioners asked staff to schedule a workshop to brief the board on SB 770, local implementation and complaint handling and to report back with recommendations on local oversight or ordinance changes if any.
