A bipartisan bill has been filed in the Florida House of Representatives that aims to make it easier for condominium associations to participate in the My Safe Florida Home program, which provides grants to help homeowners strengthen their homes against hurricane damage.
The bill (HB 393), filed by Representative Vicki Lopez, R-Miami, and Representative Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland, proposes changing the current requirement of a unanimous vote among condo unit owners to a 75% approval threshold.
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“I happen to live in a condo. You couldn’t get a unanimous vote that today is Tuesday,” said Representative Lopez. “So, we know what the limitations and the restrictions that may be that are keeping us from being able to implement this pilot.”
The bill would also limit participation to condo buildings that are three stories or higher.
The My Safe Florida Home program was created in 2006 but was revived in 2022 with a significant funding boost. It provides grants to homeowners for hurricane mitigation improvements, which can lead to reduced insurance premiums. The program has seen substantial participation, with over 190,000 home inspections completed and nearly 60,000 grant applications approved.
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Governor Ron DeSantis recently proposed allocating $200 million for the homeowner portion of the program and $30 million for the condo pilot program in the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget.
Lawmakers will consider the program’s funding and the newly filed bill during the legislative session, which begins March 4th.
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