Surfside

The town of Surfside held events to remember the victims beginning Saturday at 1:22 a.m., the exact time the disaster began to unfold.

A Senate committee backed a proposal that would make changes to Florida's condominium safety law, which were implemented following the deadly collapse in Surfside.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has approved new laws the state hopes will calm a chaotic property insurance market, and eventually lead to rate decreases for homeowners. But some lawmakers and industry analysts say they worry the packages don’t deliver relief fast enough and don’t go far enough for property owners to see a difference.

Moving quickly after a special legislative session, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed bills to try to stem problems in the property-insurance market and to bolster the safety of condominium buildings.

The state legislature has added condo building reform to this week’s special session on property insurance. Lawmakers faced pressure to overhaul current laws after a deadly building collapse in South Florida last year, but the two chambers failed to reach a compromise during the regular legislative session.

Lawmakers wrapped up the regular 2022 Florida legislative session in March without passing a bill that would create a statewide standard for ensuring that residential buildings are safe to live in. Some elected officials gathered April 14, 2022, at the site of the former Champlain Towers South on Collins Avenue in Surfside to express urgency for a new law in Florida.

The Florida Legislature adjourned last week after unsuccessful attempts to address skyrocketing property insurance premiums and improve the safety of condo towers. Speaking Monday morning in Wellington, Gov. Ron Desantis said he “would welcome” a special session to deal with those issues.

With the House poised to pass its version of the bill Thursday, a Senate panel moved forward Wednesday with a measure that would place inspection requirements on condominium buildings after the deadly collapse last year of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside.

Sen. Jennifer Bradley of Fleming Island is sponsoring a bill that would require more frequent condo inspections. A similar bill is moving forward in the House.

President Joe Biden early Friday approved federal assistance as crews continued working at the scene of a collapsed condominium building in Miami-Dade County and as dozens of people remained missing.