Gov. Ron DeSantis renewed his push for reforms to Florida’s condominium laws to alleviate financial strain on property owners, but he remains hesitant to call a special legislative session.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday renewed his call for reforms to Florida’s condominium laws in an effort to ease financial pressure on property owners facing rising costs for building inspections and repairs, though he expressed reluctance to convene a special legislative session to address the issue.

During a roundtable discussion in Pinellas County, the governor acknowledged financial challenges faced by condo owners and noted a need for reform to prevent displacement. The calls for reform stem from the financial strain caused by new regulations enacted after the tragic 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, which claimed 98 lives. In response to the disaster, the Florida Legislature passed stricter requirements for building inspections and repairs, particularly for structures over 30 years old or located near the coast.

“I think the path forward would be by the end of the year, generating the ideas that the legislature can then take run with and produce some reforms that are going to be sensible, that are going to continue to support transparency, that will will support safety, but are also going to do that in a way that is not going to be something driving people out of their condo units,” said DeSantis.

A prominent issue under review is the Structural Integrity Reserve Study (SIRS), which mandates that condo associations maintain reserves for future repairs. Many associations, DeSantis noted, are struggling to meet these requirements, having failed to set aside sufficient funds in previous years. To alleviate this, the governor suggested potential policy actions such as extending compliance deadlines and providing zero-interest loans to help associations cover necessary repair costs.

While the laws were designed to improve safety, they have inadvertently placed pressure on many condo owners—particularly retirees on fixed incomes—who are now facing substantial assessments for repairs and inspections. In many cases, associations have historically failed to build sufficient reserves, leading to sudden and substantial assessments as they race to meet the January 1, 2025 compliance deadline.

Despite the noted issues, DeSantis has refrained from committing to a special legislative session, instead positing that it could be addressed during regular committee weeks later this year.

“You can call a special session without having the reforms lined up,” the governor said. “If [the reforms are] half baked, people just run around like chickens with their heads cut off and you could end up generating a product that causes problems. So we’re doing this very thoughtfully … I don’t even think I’m gonna need to [call a special session].”

Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo also rejected calls for a special session last month to revise safety and reserve funding laws, stating that any changes should be addressed during the regular legislative session.

In a memo sent to Florida Senators, Passidomo argued that while condo safety is “critical,” revisiting the regulations passed after the Champlain Towers collapse should “undergo a review during the normal legislative process, allowing for collaboration and stakeholder input.” She dismissed suggestions for a special session, stating that such matters would be better addressed in the upcoming regular session following the post-election reorganization.

Passidomo acknowledged the financial strain the laws may impose on some condo owners, particularly those on fixed incomes, but said that the regulations are necessary to ensure the structural integrity of buildings and the safety of residents.

“I am increasingly concerned by what I see as a growing narrative, ripe with misconceptions and inaccuracies, regarding the condo safety legislation passed in the years following the devastating collapse of the Champlain Towers in Surfside,” Passidomo wrote in the memo. “Some have suggested a special session be called to address or alter existing safety and reserve funding requirements and other related issues. I do not agree. I have no intention at the present time of utilizing my authority as Senate President to convene a special session.”