Campbell Property Management’s Beth 
Rappaport, VP of Business Development is in Tallahassee this week with CAI meeting with legislators advocating on behalf of community associations in advance of the 2025 legislative session.
Beth is attending with the Community Associations Institute (CAI). Since its founding in 1987, this diverse group of homeowner leaders, community managers, and business partners has served as a trusted resource for understanding the real-world impact of proposed legislation on community associations. Together, they offer valuable perspectives on how laws affect those who live and work in these unique communities.
The talking points of this session are:
Reserve Standards – A Path to Funding
A lack of uniformity leads to confusion and, in many cases, an unnecessary increase in costs for association owners. CAI has spent years developing effective national standards for reserve studies, including vital definitions. These standards should be adopted by the state either via DBPR administrative code rule of by statute. These standards will better help guide associations as they embark on a path of financial certainty and stability. Owners will no longer have to lurch between special assessment and unforeseen special assessment. The true cost of ownership will be readily apparent and certain from purchase and properly forecast for decades to come.
Leveraging Florida Housing Finance Corporation’s Mission to Enhance Condominium Safety and Building Resilience
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) is committed to providing affordable housing solutions and ensuring the safety and stability of residential communities. Enhancing condominium safety and resilience aligns directly with this mission by addressing critical housing needs for millions of Floridians living in community associations.
The legislature should charge FHFC with developing safety and resilience programs:
Federal and State Funding: Task FHFC with creating programs that utilize federal and/or state funds to ensure condominiums meet essential safety and resilience standards. These programs can support housing stability, improve building safety, and reduce vulnerability to disasters, achieving FHFC’s broader goals of sustainable and safe housing.
Programs could include grant and low-interest loan programs for homeowners and associations to fund structural repairs and mandatory building inspections and safety standards. Programs could also include support for resilience and sustainability, including funding opportunities for energy efficiency upgrades, disaster proofing, and infrastructure modernization. Programs could include grant and low-interest loan programs for homeowners and associations to fund structural repairs and mandatory building inspections and safety standards.
By charging FHFC with these responsibilities, the state can proactively enhance the safety, resilience, and sustainability of Florida’s condominiums, ultimately protecting lives, properties, and investments. This is a critical step in creating a safer and more resilient Florida housing landscape..
Housing Affordability Following a Hurricane – Access to Federal Funds and Eliminating Red Tape
Community associations across Florida are often excluded from timely access to federal disaster resources following hurricanes due to FEMA restrictions on debris removal and infrastructure repair in private communities. To address this inequity, we urge the Florida Legislature to amend Chapter 252, Florida’s emergency management statute, to require local governments to remove debris from private roads in community associations.
This legislative amendment ensures localities are legally obligated to act, removing FEMA red tape and allowing them to qualify for reimbursement under federal disaster assistance programs. Residents of community associations pay the same local taxes as others, making it only fair that they receive equitable disaster recovery support.
This solution not only streamlines the recovery process but also ensures funding is available for critical debris removal and infrastructure repairs, safeguarding all Florida residents in the wake of natural disasters.
Let the Recent Reforms Work
Last year, Florida passed the most comprehensive HOA reform bill in the state's history, bringing significant updates to governance and board management. These changes are a major step forward, and it’s essential to allow time for communities to adapt and fully implement them.
For more information and resources, click here.
