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Article
Courtesy of Channel 12 News
By Sophie Pendrill
Published December 24, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — In a move to empower homeowners and enhance
transparency, State Representative Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) has unveiled
House Bill 657, legislation aimed at overhauling the governance of community
associations in Florida.
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According to the
32-page document, House Bill 657 focuses on increasing
transparency, accountability, and fairness in community
governance.
One of the significant changes it proposes is the removal of
required mediation before lawsuits can be filed against
community associations. Instead, associations will need to
include specific statements in their governing documents. If
they fail to do so, they must hold a meeting to vote on
amendments.
The bill also gives homeowners more power by allowing them
to petition for changes if they’re unhappy with their
associations. One notable provision allows homeowners'
associations (HOAs) to be terminated under certain
conditions, requiring approved plans to be documented and
recorded. |
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Porras emphasized that this legislation is designed to
“put homeowners first” by creating a fairer and more transparent system to
tackle ongoing issues faced in community governance.
The proposed bill includes measures for creating a community association
court program, which will oversee disputes and ensure that associations
follow the new guidelines. It also outlines how assets and debts will be
managed if an association is terminated.
The bill was filed on December 4 and is scheduled to take effect on July 1,
2026.
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