Key facts
- A bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) has been reintroduced to Congress.
- The proposed legislation, the Making Condos Safer and Affordable Act, aims to provide access to low-interest, government-backed loans for condominium safety repairs.
- The bill seeks to allow condominium associations to spread the costs of major safety repairs over time, avoiding large special assessments.
- The initiative follows the deadly 2021 condo tower collapse in Surfside, Florida, and subsequent state-level reforms.
- Several states, including Florida, Maryland, Virginia, and Tennessee, have enacted new condo safety and reserve legislation.
A bipartisan proposal to finance condominium safety repairs has been reintroduced in the U.S. Congress, aiming to ease the financial burden on homeowners and associations following the Surfside condo tower collapse. The Making Condos Safer and Affordable Act, championed by Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), seeks to expand access to low-interest, government-backed loans for critical structural and life-safety work.
This renewed effort comes as states nationwide, including Florida, have implemented stricter inspection and reserve requirements for older buildings. Florida's measures mandate "milestone inspections" and structural integrity reserve studies, often leading to significant costs for condo owners through increased fees or special assessments. The federal bill intends to provide a financing mechanism to help associations undertake these necessary repairs without pricing residents out of their homes.
Supporters, such as Dawn Bauman, CEO of the Community Associations Institute, emphasize that the legislation offers practical tools for communities to address infrastructure needs and ensure resident safety. The bill previously stalled in committee during the 118th Congress, but its reintroduction reflects a growing focus on condo safety and affordability, with numerous states also exploring similar legislative solutions.