(The Center Square) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis continued his criticism of the Florida House of Representatives, saying their condominium reform bill benefits “special interests and developers” and will exacerbate the problem.

The second term Republican governor held a news conference near Miami as lawmakers wrestle with how to help condominium owners.

He also declined to answer whether he’d veto House Bill 7031, which the lower chamber passed on Wednesday unanimously and would lower the state’s sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%. He said while he’s not opposed to providing sales tax relief, he’d prefer to lower property taxes instead.

“I’d support sales tax relief for Floridians, but I don’t want to give sales tax relief to Canadians,” DeSantis said. “I want them paying the tax. The issue is we need to do property tax relief for Floridians. We’re in a great situation with 142 million visitors.

“If they come and spend money, I have no problem for them to pay the tax. I want to cut taxes for Floridans, our residents, and the best way to target that is to provide property tax relief for our residents.”

Many condo owners are dealing with crippling assessments that DeSantis said can be as much as $100,000 per unit. These are required by laws passed in a May 2022 special session in the wake of the 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers condominium building in Surfside that killed 98 people. 

“Florida has a condo crisis that is impacting many of our residents, especially seniors living on a fixed income,” DeSantis said. “While recent legislation was well-intended, it has resulted in unaffordable fee assessments pushing many from their homes. We must act now to protect Floridians and ensure they aren’t priced out of their homes.”

The governor also said that when he called for a special session on immigration enforcement earlier this year, he also wanted lawmakers to address condo issues. He says House leaders balked and preferred to address it in the regular session now under way and which will end on May 2. 

“There has not been meaningful action in the House to give Floridians relief from the condo crisis that the Legislature itself caused,” DeSantis said. “We’ve got to be able to step up and do the right thing.”

DeSantis supports Senate Bill 1742, which he says includes increased accountability, stronger association voting integrity and flexible funding options for repairs.

SB1742, which is sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, is now in the hands of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee. 

House Bill 913, sponsored by Rep. Vickie Lopez, R-Miami, would prohibit the state’s property insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, from issuing or renewing a policy for a unit owner or condo association unless the association has completed an inspection and a structural integrity reserve study.

It would also allow condo boards of directors to levy special assessments and obtain loans to fix issues found by inspections or structural studies without the approval of residents. 

The bill was sent to the House Commerce Committee on March 13 with no recent action.