TALLAHASSEE—Florida Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo gave an update on the status of condo reform bills currently going through the legislative session.
It's fair to say Sen. Pizzo is not optimistic the bills to address the issue will cross the legislative goal line.
"The House version of the condo bill and the Senate version are pretty far away from each other," Pizzo told The Floridian. "The Senate is always very conciliatory but deliberate at the same time and very careful. It would be nice if we could come together on it. I don't know if this far into the session - we are so far apart that we land that plane."
Pizzo emphasized the problem would likely not be solved by the end of the session in May. However, he did foresee the issue needing a special legislative session similar to the one held over immigration a few months ago.
Instead, Pizzo offered the legislature's teamwork on a condo bill last session as a way of compromise.
"The My Safe Safe Florida Home Program for Condos, which we did last year to the tune of 30 million dollars in funding, required 100% of the ownership to agree to it. "You can't get 100% of your Thanksgiving dinner table to agree to anything any day of the week, much less a condo," Pizzo quipped.
Pizzo also mentioned a bill that he co-sponsored this session with Sen. Tom Leek (R-St. Augustine) as a decent alternative.
"SB 592 lowers the threshold from 100% to 75. I would like to see it like 60,65. But it's better than nothing. I slapped on an amendment that said let's fund this year's version of My Safe Florida Home for condos with 500 million dollars," Pizzo said.
Pizzo, rumored as a gubernatorial candidate, said he agreed with Gov. Ron DeSantis on this particular issue.
"No two buildings are the same. No two associations are the same. But it's imperative and necessary for people to get a financial and physical snapshot of the condition of where they live. I think that's fair," Pizzo said.
