JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville homeowner association president spoke out against a proposed Florida law that would allow residents to dissolve their HOA with a two-thirds majority vote — a move he said would devastate neighborhoods across the state.
Scott Lara, president of the Mill Creek Homeowners Association, has served in the role for three years and believes the legislation is based on extreme cases rather than the everyday reality of most communities.
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“I firmly believe that most HOAs are working and operating correctly,” Lara said. “There may be a few that are not doing right by their community.”
The bill, sponsored by Florida Rep. Juan Carlos Porras, comes after the high-profile arrest of eight former board members of the Hammocks, which is one of the largest HOAs in the state. Investigators said the group stole more than $2 million from residents in a widespread racketeering scheme.
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Porras argued cases like that show why homeowners need the power to eliminate their association if they choose. Lara disagrees.
He said the legislation is “short-sighted” and would ultimately harm homeowners by eroding the very systems that help maintain property values and neighborhood standards.
“My board, we’re all volunteers. We are not paid,” Lara said. “If anyone is concerned about their HOA, run for the board, run for the committee, and they can have a voice. This is the best way to do it.”
Lara feared that the loudest voices in the debate are those who oppose HOAs altogether, drowning out residents who appreciate what their associations provide. He insisted that most Florida communities rely on HOAs for essential services and stability.
“I think this legislator in South Florida who is being short-sighted with this legislation is harming us,” Lara said. “We need HOA management companies and leaders like myself to let legislators know that this must not pass.”
Under HB 657, the dissolution process of an HOA would begin when 20% of homeowners sign a petition. That would trigger a mandatory vote. To abolish the HOA, two-thirds of all voting members must approve.
Once the petition threshold is met:
- The HOA board would have 60 days to hold a meeting on dissolving the association.
- Two-thirds of homeowners must vote in favor for the dissolution to pass.
- If the vote fails, residents must wait 18 months before trying again.
Porras argued that the measure would increase transparency and restore rights to homeowners who, he says, often struggle to obtain required association documents.
“There’s a lack of transparency across the board,” he said. “Many times homeowners either don’t get the documents they’re entitled to or the association makes it harder for people to do their job.”