Florida community association education. Reviewed November 4, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
The law and the current operating framework
HB 919 became Chapter 2023-228, effective October 1, 2023. The official bill history identifies changes involving HOA records, fines, suspensions, funds, director matters and fraudulent voting. For Northwest Florida Chapter 720 associations, the practical response is to make financial custody and governance procedures verifiable.
Later legislation also changed Chapter 720. A board using this historical article in 2026 should therefore follow current sections 720.303, 720.3033 and 720.305 for present decisions. The aim is not to reproduce the entire 2023 act, but to connect its subjects with dependable controls.
Handle owner deposits as separate money
Current section 720.303 requires a deposit collected from a member, including a construction-related deposit, to be maintained separately rather than commingled with other association funds. The deposit should not disappear into operating income simply because the association expects to return most of it later.
When the project or other reason for the deposit is complete, the owner may request an accounting. The statute requires that accounting within seven days after the request and return of unused funds within 30 days after notice of completion. Use a deposit register showing receipt, authorized charges, completion notice, accounting and refund. An informal note in a manager's inbox is not a reliable substitute.
These controls differ from ordinary assessment accounting and from developer-related fund segregation. A chart of accounts can help distinguish them, but the board and accountant should also verify how the money is actually held.
Make decisions traceable
Current section 720.3033 contains conflict-related requirements for transactions involving directors and specified related entities, including disclosures in meeting minutes. Identify potential conflicts before bids are evaluated or a contract is signed. The association should not rely solely on the interested person to decide that a connection is immaterial.
Records access and voting integrity also depend on preservation. Retain the records supporting notices, ballots, approvals and financial decisions according to the applicable rules. A claim of criminal misconduct is serious and fact-dependent; a board should preserve evidence and seek legal advice rather than publicly label a disagreement as a crime.
Fine procedures should be checked under current section 720.305, including independent committee review, cure rights and payment timing. A notice prepared in 2023 may no longer reflect the complete process.
Board checklist
Reconcile owner deposits separately from assessments. Calendar accounting and refund requests. Require conflict disclosures before procurement decisions. Preserve minutes, voting materials and records-request evidence. Review enforcement forms against current law. Ask counsel about disputed transactions or suspected misconduct, and communicate verified facts without unsupported accusations. Effective safeguards protect owners and directors by making the association's handling of money and decisions understandable after the people involved have changed.