Subcommittee backs HOA reform bill creating community‑association court and new dissolution rules
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Summary
CS/HB 657, sponsored by Rep. Porras, was reported favorably (14‑1). The bill would create a legislatively funded community association court program, adjust dissolution petition thresholds, eliminate some pre‑suit mediation, and tighten financial‑disclosure and Kaufman‑language standards.
Representative Porras told the committee CS/HB 657 addresses widespread homeowner concerns about HOA governance by creating a community association court program, revising dissolution standards, and strengthening disclosure rules. "Number 1, we are creating a community association court program that will operate as a specialty court funded through the legislature," Porras said, and described moving definitions and clarifying the dissolution petition threshold to 50%.
Public testimony included homeowners and advocates who described alleged harassment, undisclosed financial problems, and difficulties obtaining records. Tyler Cassidy, a resident of Arden in Loxahatchee, testified that his family faced what he described as bullying and governance failures and urged the committee to support the bill. Opponents, including a community association attorney, cautioned that termination and removing pre‑suit mediation carry unintended consequences for roads, land‑use and financing and urged more work on implementation details.
Sponsor amendments reorganized statutory definitions, raised some procedural thresholds and clarified the financial disclosure items to include bank statements and check images. After extended debate on pre‑suit mediation, dissolution mechanics, and court capacity, the committee voted and reported CS/HB 657 favorably, 14 yeas to 1 nay. The sponsor said dissolution remains procedurally rigorous and judicially supervised and that the measure is intended to provide a legal pathway for homeowners where governance has broken down.