State Representative Vicki Lopez is preparing to introduce at least three House Bills during the 2025 Florida Legislative Session, which kicks off next week. The bills address critical issues including condominium governance, housing affordability, and the expansion of commuter rail services.
Lopez, whose district includes Key Biscayne, has focused her legislative efforts on these key areas. No new legislation regarding low-interest loans for condo owners was mentioned. However, discussions on this topic are expected in Tallahassee.
HB 913: Strengthening Condominium Governance
This bill aims to bolster condominium governance, financial stability, and transparency while prioritizing safety, fairness, and inclusive management to protect residents, and prevent future tragedies.
Following the tragic 2021 collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, which resulted in 98 deaths, the need for improved structural integrity measures in Florida’s aging condominium buildings became critical. With over 912,000 condominiums in Florida that are 30 years or older, many require significant repairs. Current state law requires condo associations to conduct structural integrity reserve studies and fund reserves for repairs to prevent further tragedies.
HB 913 modernizes condominium governance, prioritizing safety, transparency, and financial accountability. The bill mandates electronic voting to facilitate condo owner participation, especially when a majority requests it. It also streamlines the condo termination process, emphasizing public safety and fairness.
This legislation strengthens and modernizes condominium governance, financial stability and transparency in Florida while prioritizing safety, fairness, and inclusive management to protect residents and prevent future tragedies.
Additionally, the bill empowers condo boards to take swift action on structural repairs without delays to prevent catastrophic failures. It addresses issues related to hotel condos and vertical subdivisions and aims to increase financial transparency and clarify responsibilities for mixed-use properties. The legislation seeks streamlined, efficient, and inclusive condo management to protect condo owners’ homes and investments.
A notable provision of the 99-page legislation could bar the state-run property insurer, Citizens, from providing coverage to condominiums that fail to meet new requirements. It has been reported that more than 11,270 Florida condominium associations have not yet completed the required studies for funding future repairs.
Some fear that losing Citizens coverage might be the end for many condo owners. The Miami Herald reports that over half of the 18,468 condo buildings insured by Citizens are located in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, covering 4,213 associations.
HB 923: Addressing Housing Affordability
HB 923 targets Florida’s housing affordability crisis by incentivizing mixed and multifamily developments to retain essential workers and young professionals, and support economic growth.
Florida is facing a housing affordability crisis, especially impacting the “missing middle”—those who earn too much for traditional affordable housing but not enough for market-rate homes. This situation is pushing young professionals and essential workers, including teachers, healthcare professionals, and first responders, out of the communities they serve and out of the state, leading to a loss of the workforce and hindering Florida’s long-term economic growth.
HB 923 aims to address Florida’s housing affordability crisis by incentivizing mixed and multifamily developments and ensuring long-term affordability to retain essential workers and young professionals in the state and support economic growth.
HB 923 addresses these critical issues by removing development barriers through tax exemptions for non-profit developers and pre-certification for affordable housing projects. The legislation provides these incentives for mixed-use and multifamily developments, creating diverse housing options to meet the needs of the workforce. The bill also aims to ensure long-term affordability by preventing displacement as tenants’ incomes rise, allowing workers to build stability without being priced out. The bill promotes adaptive reuse of existing structures, maximizing the potential of underutilized properties.
The goal of this legislation is to retain essential workers and young professionals in Florida by providing them with stable housing, ensuring workforce retention, and fostering long-term economic growth. The bill seeks to create a more inclusive and sustainable Florida.
HB 867: Coastal Link Commuter Rail Service Act
HB 867 establishes the operational framework, indemnification, and insurance obligations for commuter rail services along Florida’s coastal corridor, defining the roles of stakeholders like Brightline, Florida East Coast Railway, and the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority.
Florida is experiencing rapid population growth, increasing the demand for reliable, efficient, and accessible transportation. To address traffic congestion, environmental concerns, and the need for sustainable mobility solutions, expanding commuter rail services is a key priority. The Coastal Link Commuter Rail Service Act aims to establish a robust commuter rail system connecting Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, promoting economic growth and reducing reliance on cars.
HB 867 establishes the operational framework, indemnification and insurance obligations for commuter rail services along Florida’s coastal corridor, defining the role of stakeholders like Brightline, Florida East Coast Railway, and the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority.
This legislation removes key barriers to commuter rail expansion. The bill establishes a clear liability framework, sets insurance standards, and ensures collaboration among Brightline, Florida East Coast Railway (FECR), the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), and state agencies. By capping indemnification obligations and maintaining sovereign immunity protections, the bill aims to balance public and private sector responsibilities while enabling expanded service.
The Coastal Link Corridor will provide Floridians with a safe, convenient, and modern transit alternative, easing congestion and reducing environmental impacts. Investing in commuter rail strengthens work-force mobility, enhances regional connectivity, and supports long-term economic development.
The 2025 Florida Legislative Session is set to take place from March 4 to May 2, 2025.
