REMBAUM'S ASSOCIATION ROUNDUP | The Community Association Legal News You Can Use

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The Corporate Transparency Act Strikes Back

CORPORATE TRANSPARENCY ACT STRIKES BACK!

In the never ending saga regarding the applicability of the Corporate Transparency Act, there is yet another twist in that the judge in the Texas litigation, which we wrote about to you on December 14 and who issued the nationwide injunction, reversed course on December 23, when he lifted the court’s previously enacted injunction making the Corporate Transparency Act’s registration requirements applicable once again. However, FinCen, in light of the short notice, has extended the deadline in which to register to January 13, 2025 absent other deadline extensions.

As reported in our prior article, a recent update from the United States Department of Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen) provides an extension of time to comply with the requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act for the initial reporting deadlines, but there are strict requirements regarding the applicability of the extension as discussed below.

FinCen, on October 29, 2024, extended the initial reporting deadlines to June 30, 2025, for associations in counties affected by Hurricane Milton where:

(1) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance is available for individual or public assistance; and

(2)    IRS tax filing deadlines have been extended.

Associations in the following counties appear to be subject to the extension:

Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putman, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, and Volusia.

Of course, to be absolutely certain, please check with your association’s attorney.

The December 23, 2024 email communication received from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network as reported on above follows:

Updates to Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Deadlines – Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirements Now in Effect, with Deadline Extensions

In light of a December 23, 2024, federal Court of Appeals decision, reporting companies, except as indicated below, are once again required to file beneficial ownership information with FinCEN. However, because the Department of the Treasury recognizes that reporting companies may need additional time to comply given the period when the preliminary injunction had been in effect, we have extended the reporting deadline as follows:

    • Reporting companies that were created or registered prior to January 1, 2024 have until January 13, 2025 to file their initial beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN. (These companies would otherwise have been required to report by January 1, 2025)
    • Reporting companies created or registered in the United States on or after September 4, 2024 that had a filing deadline between December 3, 2024 and December 23, 2024 have until January 13, 2025 to file their initial beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN.
    • Reporting companies created or registered in the United States on or after December 3, 2024 and on or before December 23, 2024 have an additional 21 days from their original filing deadline to file their initial beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN.
    • Reporting companies that qualify for disaster relief may have extended deadlines that fall beyond January 13, 2025. These companies should abide by whichever deadline falls later.
    • Reporting companies that are created or registered in the United States on or after January 1, 2025 have 30 days to file their initial beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN after receiving actual or public notice that their creation or registration is effective.
    • As indicated in the alert titled “Notice Regarding National Small Business United v. Yellen, No. 5:22-cv-01448 (N.D. Ala.)”, Plaintiffs in National Small Business United v. Yellen, No. 5:22-cv-01448 (N.D. Ala.)—namely, Isaac Winkles, reporting companies for which Isaac Winkles is the beneficial owner or applicant, the National Small Business Association, and members of the National Small Business Association (as of March 1, 2024)—are not currently required to report their beneficial ownership information to FinCEN at this time.

On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, in the case of Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., et al. v. Garland, et al., No. 4:24-cv-00478 (E.D. Tex.), the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division, issued an order granting a nationwide preliminary injunction. On December 23, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a stay of the district court’s preliminary injunction enjoining the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) entered in the case of Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. Garland, pending the outcome of the Department of the Treasury’s ongoing appeal of the district court’s order. Texas Top Cop Shop is only one of several cases that have challenged the CTA pending before courts around the country. Several district courts have denied requests to enjoin the CTA, ruling in favor of the Department of the Treasury. The government continues to believe—consistent with the conclusions of the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Oregon—that the CTA is constitutional. For that reason, the Department of Justice, on behalf of the Department of the Treasury, filed a Notice of Appeal on December 5, 2024 and separately sought of stay of the injunction pending that appeal with the district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Rembaum’s Association Roundup’s prior article, published December 11th, regarding the nationwide injunction, can be found HERE.

Corporate Transparency Act – Alert

ALERT!!

CORPORATE TRANSPARENCY ACT

Mandatory Registration Temporarily Stayed

Below is an update direct from the Federal Government’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen)

In light of a recent federal court order, reporting companies are not currently required to file beneficial ownership information with FinCEN and are not subject to liability if they fail to do so while the order remains in force. However, reporting companies may continue to voluntarily submit beneficial ownership information reports.

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) plays a vital role in protecting the U.S. and international financial systems, as well as people across the country, from illicit finance threats like terrorist financing, drug trafficking, and money laundering. The CTA levels the playing field for tens of millions of law-abiding small businesses across the United States and makes it harder for bad actors to exploit loopholes in order to gain an unfair advantage.

On December 3, 2024, in the case of Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., et al. v. Garland, et al., No. 4:24-cv-00478 (E.D. Tex.), a federal district court in the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division, issued an order granting a nationwide preliminary injunction that: (1) enjoins the CTA, including enforcement of that statute and regulations implementing its beneficial ownership information reporting requirements, and, specifically, (2) stays all deadlines to comply with the CTA’s reporting requirements. The Department of Justice, on behalf of the Department of the Treasury, filed a Notice of Appeal on December 5, 2024.

Texas Top Cop Shop is only one of several cases in which plaintiffs have challenged the CTA that are pending before courts around the country. Several district courts have denied requests to enjoin the CTA, ruling in favor of the Department of the Treasury. The government continues to believe—consistent with the conclusions of the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Oregon—that the CTA is constitutional.

While this litigation is ongoing, FinCEN will comply with the order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas for as long as it remains in effect. Therefore, reporting companies are not currently required to file their beneficial ownership information with FinCEN and will not be subject to liability if they fail to do so while the preliminary injunction remains in effect. Nevertheless, reporting companies may continue to voluntarily submit beneficial ownership information reports.

Corporate Transparency Act – An Update

Corporate Transparency Act Update

A recent update from the United States Department of Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen) provides an extension of time to comply with the requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act for the initial reporting deadlines but there are strict requirements regarding the applicability of the extension as discussed below.

FinCen, on October 29, 2024, extended the initial reporting deadlines to July 1, 2025, for associations in counties affected by Hurricane Milton where

    1. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance is available; and
    2. IRS tax filing deadlines have been extended.

Associations in the following counties are subject to the extension:

Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putman, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, and Volusia.

Please click on the button below to read the FinCen bulletin.

MySafe Florida Condominium Pilot Program Launching

MySafe Florida Condominium Pilot Program Launching

Not with a Condominium Association? Please feel free to share with colleagues who are! The information below is a copy of the email from the State’s program.

The Department of Financial Services is thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program on November 14, 2024! This new initiative aims to enhance the safety and resilience of condominiums across Florida, and we are excited to invite potential applicants like you to take part in this important program.

The My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program is designed to help condominium associations strengthen their properties against the impacts of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, by offering access to critical resources, safety improvements, and financial assistance. Whether you’re looking to improve your condominium’s wind resistance or apply for funding to offset improvements, this program is here to support you.

Key Program Details:

    • Launch Date: November 14, 2024.
    • Who can apply: Condominium Associations in the state of Florida located within the Program’s Service Area.
    • What’s offered to Eligible Condominium Associations1. A no-cost wind mitigation inspection and report, which includes recommendations for improvements and potential insurance premium savings. 2. A Grant Award to reimburse condominium associations following the completion of authorized improvements.

We encourage you to stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the official launch date. In the meantime, be sure to check our website https://mysafeflcondo.com/ for more information on eligibility requirements, program benefits, and how to get ready to apply.

This is a wonderful opportunity to improve your condominium’s safety while contributing to a stronger, more resilient Florida. We look forward to welcoming you to the program!

A Differing Tale of Two Terminating Condominiums

A Differing Tale of Two Terminating Condominiums

An extremely similar fact pattern leads to diametrically opposed results between Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal and Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal.

In the case before the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Fellman v. Mission Viejo Condominium Association, Inc., Case No. 4D22-1260, (Fla. 4th DCA April 6, 2023), 175 of the 176 condominium units were acquired over time by a bulk owner, and the bulk owner sought termination of the condominium. However, Fellman as the single holdout objected to the plan of termination. At trial, the trial court entered a summary judgment in favor of terminating the condominium, which Fellman then appealed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal.

The Mission Viejo Declaration of Condominium was recorded in 1980 and required 100 percent consent of all unit owners as necessary to terminate the condominium form of ownership. Forty-one years later, on February 5, 2021, the bulk owner amended the required vote to terminate the condominium from 100 percent to 80 percent, using the general amendatory provision set out in the Declaration of Condominium, which required only 80 percent consent of the voting interests. Therefore, notwithstanding the original 100 percent requirement necessary to terminate the condominium, only 80 percent of the owners had to vote in favor of lowering the consent needed from 100 percent to 80 percent, which resulted in fully divesting Fellman of the right to object to the termination of the condominium.

Obviously, Fellman did not vote in favor of the amendment. Fellman argued that by allowing 80 percent of the unit owners to amend the otherwise required 100 percent consent of all owners to terminate the condominium, it fully eviscerated his right to object to the termination of the condominium and his voting rights—a right bestowed upon him when he purchased the unit. There are few things more sacrosanct than an owner’s right to vote. Nevertheless, neither the trial court nor the Fourth District Court of Appeal agreed.

While Fellman should have been able to rely on the 100 percent termination approval requirement as originally required in the declaration of condominium, the trial court believed that if the 100 percent requirement was to be protected from being amended with a lower percentage of voting interests, then the provision in the declaration of condominium should have clarified that it could only be amended by nothing less than 100 percent approval of the unit owners. Since it did not, the trial court found no issue with the bulk buyer eviscerating the 100 percent vote needed to terminate the condominium with 80 percent of the voting interests casting their vote in favor of the amendment.

Fast forward eleven months to March 13, 2024, when Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal, in Avila v. Biscayne 21 Condominium, Inc., Case No. 3D23-1616 (Fla. 3d DCA Mar. 13, 2024), noted that the provision in the Biscayne 21 Declaration of Condominium (requiring 100 percent of the voting interests to vote in favor of the termination could NOT be amended using the lower vote threshold needed to amend the declaration of condominium) was likely to prevail. As you will note, this decision diametrically opposes the outcome in the Fellman case. In this case, Avila sought a temporary injunction to stop the plan of termination. The trial court denied it. Avila appealed, and the Third District Court of Appeal agreed with Avila that Avila’s claim stood a substantial likelihood of success on the merits. The declaration of condominium at issue in the Avila case had an additional provision that required “100 percent approval for amendments that alter the voting power of unit owners.” However, it should be axiomatic that to obliterate an owner’s right to vote by terminating the condominium where the declaration had required 100 percent of the owners to vote in favor of termination could not be amended by a termination provision of anything less than 100 percent of the owners.

The Third District Court of Appeal commented that the change to the termination vote threshold materially altered the unit owners’ voting rights. By requiring a unanimous vote for termination, the declaration of condominium originally gave every unit owner an effective “veto” over any termination plan, which would be lost if the amendment adopted by using the general amendatory powers set out in the declaration of condominium were to stand. The Court even cited the Tropicana Condominium Association, Inc. v. Tropical Condominium , LLC, 208 So. 3d 755 (Fla. 3d DCA 2016), finding that nonunanimous amendments to a declaration reducing the vote threshold for termination of condominium could not be applied where the declaration expressly required the unanimous vote to amend the termination provision, and the amendment, if retroactively applied, would eviscerate the unit owners’ contractually bestowed veto rights.

In fact, Fellman also argued the Tropicana case to the trial court, which rejected the argument; and to add insult to injury, such decision was affirmed by the Fourth District Court of Appeal. So, in the world of inconsistent decisions, Fellman was denied by the Fourth District Court of Appeal the right to veto the plan of termination and is in process of potentially losing his unit, while the Avila court found his right to veto the plan of termination seemingly protected by the Third District Court of Appeal as evidenced by issuance of the temporary injunction in his favor. Unfortunately, even once the Avila case reaches a final judgment, and if in Avila’s case that decision is appealed and upheld by the Florida Supreme Court, Fellman still loses his right to veto the plan of termination as initially bestowed upon him and, even more unfortunately, will lose ownership of the unit.

Corporate Transparency Act Compliance and How to File Your Association’s Report

Corporate Transparency Act Compliance and How to File Your Association's Report

The Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) was enacted in 2021. The CTA requires that on or before January 1, 2025, all cooperatives, condominiums and homeowner’s associations (collectively, “Associations”) are required to file certain information with the US Treasury department, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”). This law requires businesses that are registered with their state’s division of corporations, which includes Community Associations, to provide information on its ‘Beneficial Owners’ which are the decision makers, meaning board members, and officers (and possibly managers, too). Your Association will need to comply with the registration requirements of the CTA or face significant penalties. In addition, any changes to the board members or officers must be reported by updating the information on FinCEN within 30 days of the change.

1) What is the CTA? The CTA aims to combat illicit activity including tax fraud, money laundering, and financing for terrorism by capturing more ownership information for specific U.S. businesses operating in or accessing the country’s market. Under the new legislation, businesses that meet certain criteria must submit a Beneficial Ownership Information (“BOI”) Report to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s FinCEN, providing details identifying the decision-making individuals for the Association.

2) What information will each Association have to report? An Association will have to report:

    • Its legal name;
    • Any trade names, “doing business as” (d/b/a), or “trading as” (t/a) names;
    • The current street address of its principal place of business if that address is in the United States (for example, company’s headquarters. The company address must be a U.S. street address and cannot be a P.O. box;
    • Its jurisdiction of formation or registration (State of Organization) and the date of formation;
    • Its Taxpayer Information Number; and
    • Any beneficial owner/board member (the decision maker).

3) Who is considered a beneficial owner of an Association? A beneficial owner of the Association is defined as an individual who either directly or indirectly exercises substantial control over the Association company. The Association will have to provide:

    • The individual’s name;
    • Date of birth;
    • Residential address; and
    • A copy of an acceptable identification document such as a passport or U.S. driver’s license.

Individuals who meet one of the following criteria are considered to exercise substantial control over the Association:

    • the individual is a senior officer;
    • the individual has authority to appoint or remove certain officers or a majority of directors of the Association, such as developers of a developer controlled Association;
    • the individual is an important decision-maker; or
    • the individual has any other form of substantial control over the Association.

4) When should an Association file this report? When should our report be updated?

    • An Association created or registered to do business before January 1, 2024, will have until January 1, 2025, to file its initial BOI report.
    • An Association created or registered in 2024 will have 90 calendar days to file after receiving actual or public notice that its creation or registration is effective.
    • An Association created or registered on or after January 1, 2025, will have 30 calendar days to file after receiving actual or public notice that its creation or registration is effective.
    • Importantly, there are continuing registration requirements as well. Anytime there is any change in the beneficial ownership it must be reported to FinCin by updating the BOI report within 30 days of the event. This applies to such events as a mid-year replacement board member or officer and possibly after each year’s annual election, too.

5) Are there any penalties associated with not filing or missing the deadlines?

Yes. As specified in the Corporate Transparency Act, a person who willfully violates the BOI reporting requirements may be subject to civil penalties of up to $500 for each day that the violation continues, plus it is adjusted annually for inflation.

Both individuals and corporate entities can be held liable for willful violations such as a failure to comply with the FinCEN registration requirements. This can also include not only an individual who actually files (or attempts to file) false information with FinCEN, but also anyone who willfully provides the filer with false information to report.

6) Are there third-party service providers to help Associations with filing?

Yes. Associations may use third-party service providers to submit beneficial ownership information reports. Third-party service providers will have the ability to submit the reports via FinCEN’s BOI E-Filing website or an Application Programming Interface (API).

While there are many third-party providers which can be located by doing a simple Google search, at this time we cannot recommend one company over another. Therefore, we are merely sharing the following information which we discovered through our own Google search. Four companies assisting with the CTA filings include:

There are others, too.

We understand that some management companies may also offer this service for an additional fee. Whether to consider using your current management company or a qualified third-party provider is a Board business decision.

Please note that Kaye Bender Rembaum, P.L., will not be performing any FinCen registrations.

7) Can an Association file on its own, without the use of a third-party?

Yes, an Association may file on its own electronically through a secure filing system via FinCEN’s BOI E-Filing website (https://boiefiling.fincen.gov). There is no fee for submitting your BOI to FinCEN. An Association can access the form by going to FinCEN’s BOI E-Filing website (https://boiefiling.fincen.gov) and select “File BOIR.”

However, due to the potential liability exposure to the Association and possibly individuals, we do not recommend that an Association undertake compliance with this act by filing on their own.

8) Are there any efforts undertaken to exempt community associations from the registration requirements?

In July, 2024, the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Board of Trustees approved filing a lawsuit to exempt and protect community associations from burdensome requirements outlined in the Corporate Transparency Act. On October 11, 2024 there was a hearing on CAI’s request for a preliminary injunction against the U.S. Department of Treasury to try and exempt Community Associations from the burdensome reporting requirements of the CTA. A ruling is expected in the next few weeks, but not guaranteed. As such, for now, compliance with the CTA by January 1, 2025 remains required.

2024 Legislative Clarifications for Board Members and Managers – An Update

2024 Legislative Clarifications For Board Members and Managers

The purpose of this article is to address the following:

    • Homeowners’ and condominium association board member certification requirements, certificate retention and continuing education requirements (all of which are quite different);
    • Condominium association and homeowners’ association hurricane protection requirements;
    • Clarify homeowners’ association website posting requirements and remind homeowners’ association board members of mandates from the 2024 legislation.

Chapter 718, F.S.: CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBER CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, CERTIFICATE RETENTION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

    • Each newly elected or appointed board member must submit to the secretary of the association the: (i) written certification AND (ii) educational certificate within 1 year before being elected or appointed or 90 days after the date of election or appointment.
    • Specifically, for the (i) written certification, all residential condominium board members must certify, in writing to the secretary of the association, that he or she has read the association’s declaration of condominium, articles of incorporation, bylaws, and current written policies; that he or she will work to uphold such documents and policies to the best of his or her ability; and that he or she will faithfully discharge his or her fiduciary responsibility to the association’s members.
    • For the (ii) educational certificate, condominium association board members must complete an educational curriculum that has been approved by the DBPR that is at least four hours long with certain mandated subjects.
    • A director of an association of a residential condominium who was elected or appointed before July 1, 2024, must comply with both written certification AND educational certificate requirements by June 30, 2025.
    • To reiterate, a director of an association of a residential condominium who was elected or appointed after July 1, 2024, must comply with both the written certification AND educational certificate requirement within 90 days after being elected or appointed to the board.
    • The written certification and/or educational certificate is valid for seven years after the date of issuance and does not have to be resubmitted as long as the director serves on the board without interruption during the seven-year period.
    • Continuing Education: In addition to the (i) written certification and (ii) educational certificate discussed above, one year after submission of the most recent written certification and educational certificate, and annually thereafter, a board member of an association of a residential condominium must submit to the secretary of the association a certificate of having satisfactorily completed at least one hour of continuing education administered by the division, or a division-approved condominium education provider, relating to any recent changes to this chapter and the related administrative rules during the past year.
    • Condominium association board members elected or appointed before July 1, 2024, have until June 30, 2025, to meet the new education curriculum requirement consisting of 1 hour of continuing education per year.
    • The condominium association must retain a director’s written certification and/or educational certificate for inspection by the members for seven years after a director’s election or the duration of the director’s uninterrupted tenure, whichever is longer.
    • Any director who fails to timely comply with the foregoing written certification and educational certificate requirements is suspended from service on the board until he or she complies.

Chapter 720, F.S.: HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBER CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, CERTIFICATE RETENTION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

    • Homeowners’ association board members elected or appointed to the board on or after July 1, 2024, must take a board certification course within 90-days after being elected or appointed to the board (no minimum time required, typically around two hours).
    • In addition, homeowners’ association board members must complete the education specific to newly elected or appointed directors at least every four years.
    • The DBPR approved educational curriculum specific to newly elected or appointed directors must include training relating to financial literacy and transparency, recordkeeping, levying of fines, and notice and meeting requirements.
    • In addition to the education course specific to newly elected or appointed board members, Homeowners’ association board members with fewer than 2,500 parcels in the association must take four hours of continuing education annually and if 2,500 parcels or more in the association, then eight hours of continuing education annually.
    • The homeowners’ association must retain each director’s written certification or educational certificate for inspection by the members for five years after the director’s election.
    • The ability of a recently elected or appointed homeowners’ association board member to simply submit a written certificate certifying that they read the association’s declaration of covenants, articles of incorporation, bylaws, and current written rules and policies; that he, or she, will work to uphold such documents and policies to the best of his or her ability; and that he, or she, will faithfully discharge his or her fiduciary duties to the association, is no longer an option to meet certification requirements as it has been removed from Section 720.3033, Florida Statutes.

HURRICANE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS:

    • Chapter 718, F.S.: Condominium Association Hurricane Protection Specifications. Each board of a residential condominium or mixed used condominium must adopt hurricane protection specifications for each building within the condominium operated by the association which may include color, style, and other factors deemed relevant by the board (please note that this provision used to apply to hurricane shutters but now applies to all hurricane protection).
    • Chapter 720, F.S.: Homeowners’ Association Hurricane Protection Specifications. The board or any architectural, construction improvement, or other similar committee of an association must adopt hurricane protection specifications for each structure or other improvement on a parcel governed by the association. The specifications may include the color and style of hurricane protection products and any other factor deemed relevant by the board. All specifications adopted by the board must comply with the applicable building code.

Chapter 720, F.S.: HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATIONS NEW WEBSITE / APP POSTING REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE HOA’S REQUIRED TO HAVE A WEBSITE / APP:

HOA New Website: By January 1, 2025, an association with 100 or more parcels shall post several documents within its Official Records on its website or make available such documents through an application that can be downloaded on a mobile device.

    • HOA New Website Posting Requirement for Members’ Meetings Notice of any scheduled meeting of the members and the agenda for the meeting, as required by Section 720.306, Florida Statutes, at least 14 days before such meeting. The notice must be posted in plain view on the homepage of the website or app, or on a separate subpage of the website or app labeled “Notices” which is conspicuously visible and linked from the homepage. The association shall also post on its website or app, any document to be considered and voted on by the members during the meeting, or any document listed on the meeting agenda, at least seven days before the meeting at which such document or information within the document will be considered.
    • HOA New Website Posting Requirement for Board Meetings– Notice of any board meeting, the agenda, and any other document required for such meeting must be posted on the website or app no later than the date required for such notice.

REMEMBER, EVERY HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD MUST DO THE FOLLOWING:

    • Adopt hurricane protection standards/rules as discussed above.
    • Provide copies of the rules and covenants to every association member before October 1, 2024, or post same on the association’s website and send notice to each member at their address used for official notices as to where they can locate them.
    • Adopt rules and regulations governing official record retention.

(Written by Jeffrey Rembaum (Kaye Bender Rebaum) and reprinted with permission from the September 2024 edition of the “Florida Community Association Journal“.)