Homeowner association bill vetoed

Gov. Charlie Crist declined to sign off on a controversial bill to overhaul homeowner associations. He signed significant condo reforms into law on May 1, but homeowner associations, which number about 1.4 million members statewide, remain largely unregulated. The unsuccessful bill (CS,HB 679) included provisions that would have let homeowner associations lien and foreclose on owners who don’t pay fines of more than $1,000. It also would have required new association directors to file statements that they had read the rules within 30 days of election or be disqualified from serving.