LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2026

ANALYSIS OF BILL SB 1498

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS

GENERAL BILL SB 1498 

An Act Relating To Condominium Associations -- introduced by Senator Jennifer Bradley

Effective Date July 1, 2026

ANALYSIS

We should support this bill.  The bill, if enacted, is effective as of July 1, 2026. 

The bill amends 718.103, F.S. (definitions) relating to “video conference” to include unit owners.”  Meetings conducted by video conferences that are open to the unit owners must provide a hyperlink, as well as call-in conference telephone number and a physical location where the meeting will be conducted so that unit owners may attend in person.    The meeting must be recorded and kept as an official record of the association. 

At present, the structural integrity reserve study for both condominium and cooperative associations require a developer to conduct and comply with a turnover inspection report on buildings three stories or higher before turning over control to the unit owners structural integrity reserve study

The bill deletes “three stories or higher in height,” resulting in all condominium and cooperative buildings to be included in the turnover inspection report.

The bill revises s. 718.128, F.S. (Electronic Voting) on  associations that have not adopted electronic voting  and who must receive electronically transmitted ballots   Associations must now navigate further avenues that allow greater flexibility for owners to vote on different electronic platforms. In addition to designating an e-mail address, the association must also designate an independent website application, or Internet web portal for receipt of electronically transmitted ballots.

Further, the association must count completed ballots that are electronically transmitted to the designated e-mail address, independent website, application, or Internet web portal provided the completed ballots to comply with the requirements in 718.128, F.S.