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Subcommittee approves bill expanding oversight and disclosure rules for homeowners associations
Summary
HB 983, which expands local law enforcement inspection and audit authority for homeowners associations, tightens disclosure rules for real estate transactions, and amends recall and election procedures, passed the subcommittee unanimously after adoption of an amendment banning nominating committees.
The Florida House Housing, Agriculture and Tourism Subcommittee unanimously adopted House Bill 983 on May 1, a measure that expands oversight into homeowners associations (HOAs), tightens disclosure requirements for real estate transactions, and amends recall and nomination procedures for HOA boards.
Representative Juan Porras, the bill sponsor, said HB 983 “attaches the teeth” to prior legislation by giving local law enforcement — including sheriffs’ offices — authority to investigate, inspect and audit homeowners associations. Porras told the committee that, historically, law enforcement could investigate specific crimes such as wire fraud and check fraud but lacked broader audit or inspection authority, which he said allowed some associations to remain unchecked.
The bill includes disclosure requirements for real estate transactions so prospective buyers receive association documents before closing and revises parts of the recall statute to make it easier for homeowners to remove boards. An amendment (barcode 246,923) adopted in committee prohibits the use of nominating committees in homeowners associations; Representative Porras said the change aligns HOA election law with existing condominium statutes and prevents nominating committees from barring candidates from running.
Public testimony came from several supporters who waived in favor: Aaron Biles (Miami-Dade Sheriff, waved in support), Isabella Rodriguez (Citizens Defending Freedom), Kathleen Morey (self), Chris Fontenot (self) and Josh Burkett (Community Association Managers) who testified in support of the amendment. Committee members voiced support for the bill; Vice Chair Gossett Seidman said the measure would “resolve a lot of ongoing issues” in her district, and Representative Lopez described the sponsor’s work as “continuing the good fight.”
The committee adopted the amendment by voice vote and then passed the bill on a unanimous roll-call vote (17-0). Chair Michelle Salzman said she hopes to see the bill on the House floor.
The committee hearing did not specify appropriations, an effective date, or detailed procedures for audits and inspections; those implementation items would be decided in later committee stages or in bill language awaiting floor action.
