Republican Representative Juan Carlos Porras of Miami is stirring up debate in Tallahassee with his proposal to abolish homeowners associations (HOAs) across Florida. Porras argues that HOAs have become “authoritarian” and a “failed experiment,” pointing to rising fees, weak oversight, and highly publicized scandals such as the multimillion-dollar fraud uncovered in Miami-Dade’s Hammocks community. He believes many Floridians are fed up with paying hundreds of dollars each month for services that often provide little visible benefit, and he suggests that local governments, Community Development Districts, or even private clubs could step in to provide amenities like trash pickup, landscaping, and pools. While Porras has pushed HOA reforms in the past—including measures to increase transparency, strengthen board training, and improve financial accountability—he says existing laws still lack the enforcement power needed to curb abuses.

His proposal comes against the backdrop of significant changes to Florida’s HOA laws in recent years. The 2023 “Homeowners’ Association Bill of Rights” expanded access to records, tightened election rules, and added penalties for board misconduct. More recently, House Bill 1203, which took effect fully in January 2025, requires HOAs with more than 100 homes to maintain websites, post key records online, and follow stricter financial and governance standards. Lawmakers have also responded to the 2021 Surfside condo collapse with sweeping reforms for condominium associations, mandating structural inspections and stronger reserve funding. These laws have fueled large fee increases and special assessments, intensifying frustration among homeowners already squeezed by soaring insurance premiums and high housing costs.

Florida’s broader housing market trends add fuel to the debate. Insurance costs in many parts of the state remain among the highest in the nation, monthly rents have jumped by hundreds of dollars over the past three years, and nearly a million low-income renters now face affordability struggles. Meanwhile, home sales have cooled in 2025, with prices beginning to soften but overall costs of ownership—mortgages, insurance, and HOA fees—still stretching household budgets. Against this backdrop, Porras argues that dismantling HOAs could relieve pressure on Floridians by cutting unnecessary costs and bureaucracy.

But not everyone is convinced. Industry groups like the Community Associations Institute warn that eliminating HOAs would be legally complicated and could shift maintenance responsibilities onto cities and counties, potentially driving up property taxes. They also note that most residents nationwide report positive or neutral experiences with HOAs, suggesting the problems stem from “bad apple” associations rather than the entire system. Whether Porras’s proposal gains traction remains uncertain, but with more than nine million Floridians living in HOA communities, the outcome of this debate could have sweeping consequences for neighborhoods across the state.