Latest news with #GovernorRonDeSantis
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Major update for Florida condo owners in midst of crisis
Fed-up Florida homeowners just scored a rare win after years of skyrocketing costs. Starting July 1, a new law will rein in homeowners associations (HOAs) long accused of slapping residents with surprise fees and fines for petty infractions. Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 1203 into law earlier this month, ushering in sweeping reforms aimed at making HOA boards more transparent and less intrusive. Under the new rules, any HOA with more than 100 homes or condos must post key documents — including budgets, covenants, and bylaws — on a publicly accessible website by January 1. Board members and property managers will also have to complete 4 to 8 hours of state-approved education each year. And homeowners must now get at least 14 days' notice, along with an agenda, before any board meeting. The changes are being welcomed by property owners who say they've been blindsided with arbitrary violations and ballooning fees with little warning or recourse. And this could be just the beginning of nitpicky HOAs. Lawmakers have signaled more limits may be on the way, in Florida and other states. A new law Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed with the aim of tighter regulations over Homeowner Association Fees will go into effect July 1 They can no longer ban residents from parking non-commercial, personal or work vehicles on the property. Also exempted now are first responder vehicles. HOAs can no longer create rules for the interior of a home that is not visible from the street. Now, plans for central air conditioning, refrigeration, heating or ventilation systems and changes or upgrades to adjacent common area or community golf courses require a review and approval. HOAs can no longer prevent homeowners from having a vegetable garden that can't be seen from the street, and they can't fine residents for leaving garbage cans at the curb or end of their driveway within 24 hours of a scheduled trash collection. Residents will no longer be fined for leaving up holiday decorations or lights longer than indicated in the HOA's governing documents without prior notice. Homeowners will have one week to take their decorations down after a written warning. Florida lawmakers unanimously passed HB 1203 in March before DeSantis signed it. 'This bill comes from a lot of listening to owners talk about how they know their building needs to be safe but pleading that the process be fair and workable,' state Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island), said at a press conference. The law comes as a relief to Floridians who have seen their HOAs skyrocket in the wake of the Surfside condo collapse in June 2021. Laws now require structural inspections for condos and additional money to be set aside for repairs, leading to an increase in required payments. More frequent natural disasters such as hurricanes and flooding have also led homeowners associations to raise fees in anticipation of repairs and mitigation needs. Several retirement hotspots in Florida in particular have been hit with high spikes on their HOA fees on their condos. Tampa, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale have all seen HOA rises of more than 15 percent in the last year, according to Redfin. In Tampa, the median monthly HOA fee jumped 17.2 percent over the year to July 31, according to Redfin. In Orlando, the fees soared by an average of 16.7 percent, and in Fort Lauderdale they rose by 16.2 percent, it found. This is compared to an average hike of 6 percent across the 43 most populous metro areas which Redfin analyzed. HOA fees also rose in West Palm Beach by 12.8 percent, by 7.6 percent in Jacksonville and by 5.7 percent in Miami. 'Many buildings - even those without amenities - now have HOA dues north of $1,000 a month,' Rafael Corrales from Redfin said. The HOA problem had gotten so out of hand in the Sunshine State that South Florida's pandemic property boom has officially reversed. After years of surging demand, the region's real estate market is now flooded with listings as desperate homeowners rush to sell amid soaring costs and vanishing buyers. According to a report from Cotality, the number of homes for sale across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties has quadrupled since 2022 — hitting the highest level in nearly a decade. 'The last 25 years have seen home prices, homeowners' insurance, and property taxes surge in Florida,' explains Cotality chief economist Selma Hepp. 'When you add in the unflagging migration that is straining the state's public services and inflated costs across the board, the pressure on the quality of life has become so great that it is beginning to tip the balance. Many households are finding it increasingly difficult to stay in the state.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New College of Florida 2025 graduation marks achievement and endurance
One day after dozens of students and alumni gathered for an off-campus 'People's Commencement' in protest of sweeping changes to New College of Florida, the school held its official 2025 graduation ceremony Friday evening. After two years of upheaval, the ceremony symbolized the academic achievement and endurance of students who were present as Governor Ron DeSantis reshaped the culture and identity of the small liberal arts college. Since the appointment of a new board of trustees and President Richard Corcoran in early 2023, the school has shifted away from its historically progressive roots toward a self-described 'classical' model of education, drawing national headlines. The ceremony was largely without conflict, except during the keynote address by Harvard law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz, who was also awarded an honorary doctorate of law. His speech praised New College as a 'revolutionary' example of higher education pushing back against political correctness and identity-based programs. 'You are such a fortunate group to be part of a revolutionary movement starting right here,' Dershowitz said. 'New College is standing tall against political correctness... and saving higher education from propaganda instead of mutual, objective teaching.' While praising curious and neutral learning, Dershowitz was interrupted when a graduating student asked 'Then why remove women's and gender studies?' The comment drew soft cheers and rumbles from one section of the crowd. Dershowitz directly addressed the student and criticized schools that have established academic departments focused on gender and identity studies, one of the many reasons New College alumni have historically gravitated to the school. Later, a single audience member raised a middle finger in response to Dershowitz's remarks about meritocracy and his critique of New College's reduced international student presence. Alumna April Flanke offered a more personal message to graduates. Flanke called the journey of the Class of 2025 'unique, heightened, individually challenging, life-changing." 'A lot of your friends, a lot of your mentors left,' she said. 'But you are here today because you stayed... You did it. You made it. And you demanded your personalized liberal arts education. That education is the beating heart of New College — and what we will stick through.' For student speaker Sarafari Svenson, the celebration was as much about survival as it was about success. 'Every graduate here carries their own story of hurt. A story of sacrifice. A story of setbacks and defeats. But more than anything, a story of success,' Svenson said. She shared her personal story of experiencing homelessness, poverty and health issues before arriving at New College, calling the journey a testament to perseverance. Graduates and student athletes Jordan Clark, 24, and Jack Scott, 23, both earned athletic scholarships and transferred into New College last year amid the ongoing changes, including the implementation of the school's first sports and athletics department. Clark, a Sarasota native and Booker High School graduate, returned to the area from an out-of-state school. He was surrounded by family Friday evening as he crossed the New College commencement stage. While being a part of the inaugural Mighty Banyans Men's Basketball Team this year, Clarke earned a degree in economics. Clark plans to live in the Sarasota area and work in investment banking. "It's been a good year. I'm from here. I was at a school in Georgia, then I transferred back because I wanted to be close to home. I loved it (here)," Clark said. "Even though it was a new program, I feel like me being from here made it all manageable." Scott, also a transfer student, was similarly surrounded by family at Friday's commencement. "I transferred in from Palm Beach Atlantic. Here we had a good fun season. We had to fight through some stuff, we didn't have our own gym this season, but we made it work," said Scott. "Sports always unite people. I think it gives us all something to root for, the student body to root for." New College of Florida awarded diplomas to 155 students at the 2025 commencement. Samantha Gholar covers social justice, wellness, and culture across Florida for the USA Today Network. She's passionate about telling stories that challenge power and elevate voices often left out of the mainstream. Outside the newsroom, you can find her on the mat teaching Pilates or planning her next wellness adventure. Got a tip or story idea? Reach out at sgholar@ This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New College of Florida commencement Alan Dershowitz
