Petition Purpose and Focus. A petition serves as a formal way to document and report widespread concerns in Florida’s community associations, governed primarily by:
- Florida Statutes Chapter 718 (Condominiums)
- Chapter 719 (Cooperatives)
- Chapter 720 (Homeowners’ Associations)
- Chapter 617 (Not-For-Profit Corporations)
It frames these issues as matters of constitutional rights (First Amendment petition for redress of grievances), emphasizing transparency, accountability, accessibility, and protection from overreach. The tone is formal and advocacy-focused, stressing good-faith participation without accusing criminal conduct, while invoking anti-SLAPP protections.Key areas of concern highlighted in the petition include:
- Voting Rights: Denial of votes on use of association funds/assessments, changes to governing documents without required approval, material alterations without consent, misrepresentation or minimization of voting rights, or claims that owners/shareholders lack voting rights.
- Use of Funds: Lack of vote on fund usage, excessive/undisclosed legal fees, inability to access information on legal expenses.
- Governance Changes: Unauthorized amendments to documents or major alterations.
- Financial Pressure: Repeated fee increases causing hardship, unexplained special assessments, liens, foreclosure threats, late fees, pressure to pay disputed amounts.
- ADA Accessibility: Lack of a centralized, secure, ADA-compliant online legislative testimony portal in Florida (contrary to ADA, Rehabilitation Act, and petition rights). The petition asks signers to indicate support for creating one.
- Lack of Effective Enforcement: Inability to get meaningful help from agencies like DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation), law enforcement, State Attorney, Attorney General, or elected officials—often resulting in no action, jurisdictional redirects, no response, or being told it’s a “civil matter.”
How a Petition Works
- It’s a fillable/printable form with checkboxes for experiences, optional details on status (e.g., senior, disabled, veteran, financial hardship), prior agency contacts/outcomes, and additional statements.
- Signers provide contact info (for verification/advocacy only, not commercial use) and can consent (or not) to sharing with government entities.
- Completed petitions can be mailed to: Danielle Jenkins, PO Box 261, Roseville, CA 95678.
- Contact email: pointbrittany.posse@gmail.com.
- It can be freely copied, printed, shared, and circulated for awareness, legislative/regulatory review, or advocacy (anonymized unless consent given).
This appears to be a grassroots effort to collect stories and push for reforms, rather than a formal legislative petition with signatures targeting lawmakers directly.Broader Context on Florida HOA/Condo LawsFlorida has seen significant legislative activity on these topics in recent years (especially 2024–2026), often in response to issues like post-Surfside safety mandates, reserve funding, and governance transparency. Recent changes include:
- Expanded electronic voting options (including email ballots for condos if no full e-voting system is adopted, effective 2025).
- Requirements for board education, better record access, and website portals for larger HOAs (effective 2026 in some cases).
- Flexibility in reserves and online meetings.
- Proposals (e.g., HB 657 in 2026 discussions) for HOA dissolution processes via member petition, community association courts, or other reforms to give owners more say.
However, many complaints persist about enforcement gaps, high costs, and limited recourse—aligning with the petition’s themes. If you’re an affected owner/resident in Florida, this petition provides a way to document your experience and support calls for better oversight/accessibility. For personalized legal advice on your situation (e.g., specific voting disputes or assessments), consult a Florida attorney specializing in community association law, as statutes evolve quickly. If you’d like more details on recent bills or help searching related resources, please let us know!