The Problem HB 913 Fixes

You hire an engineer to inspect your building’s structural integrity. The report comes back listing $2 million in needed repairs. Then that same engineer submits a bid to perform the work. Coincidence? Maybe. Conflict of interest? Definitely.

Florida legislators saw this pattern repeat across the state. Engineers and contractors performing structural inspections also bidding on the repair work those inspections identified. Sometimes the inspector’s report seemed tailored to steer the association toward specific contractors. Sometimes the recommended repairs looked suspiciously expensive.

HB 913, signed into law on June 23, 2025 and effective July 1, 2025, eliminates the mystery. If a design professional or contractor plans to bid on repair work, they must disclose that intention in writing before conducting the inspection.

What HB 913 Actually Requires

The law targets two specific situations: Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS) and milestone inspections.

For SIRS: Design professionals and licensed contractors who bid on conducting a SIRS must disclose in writing if they intend to bid on maintenance, repair, or replacement work related to that study.

For milestone inspections: Same rule. If the architect or engineer inspecting your building plans to bid on the repair work, they must tell you upfront.

The disclosure requirement extends beyond the individual. A person who conducts a SIRS or milestone inspection may not have a direct or indirect interest in the firm doing the work, or be related to someone with such an interest, unless that relationship is disclosed to the association in writing.

“Disclosed in writing” isn’t a suggestion. It’s a legal requirement. Verbal disclosure doesn’t count. An email buried in a contract negotiation doesn’t count. The association needs clear, written disclosure before the contract is signed.

What Happens If They Don’t Disclose

Two consequences matter.

The contract becomes voidable. If your association discovers after the fact that your inspector planned to bid on repair work and never disclosed it, you can void the contract. This doesn’t require proof of harm or inflated costs. Non-disclosure alone makes the contract voidable.

Professional discipline follows. Engineers and architects who fail to disclose face action by their licensing boards. That’s separate from the contract issue. The state can revoke or suspend their license for violating disclosure requirements.

These aren’t theoretical risks. Florida is enforcing post-Surfside legislation aggressively. Professionals who cut corners face real consequences.

Why This Matters for Your Board

Your board makes hiring decisions based on incomplete information. You see qualifications, price quotes, and timelines. You don’t always see financial incentives that might influence the inspector’s recommendations.

An engineer who plans to bid on repair work isn’t necessarily dishonest. But the potential conflict changes how your board should evaluate their findings. Maybe you get a second opinion. Maybe you require competitive bids from contractors with no inspection relationship. Maybe you’re just more careful reviewing the recommendations.

Without disclosure, you can’t make that judgment. HB 913 forces transparency so boards can make informed decisions.

How to Comply as a Board

Start with your bidding documents. Update your Request for Proposals (RFP) for SIRS and milestone inspections to explicitly ask: “Do you, or any related entity, intend to bid on maintenance, repair, or replacement work that may be recommended in this study or inspection?”

Don’t bury the question in boilerplate. Make it prominent. Require a written answer as part of the proposal package.

When reviewing proposals, look for the disclosure. If a firm doesn’t address the question, ask directly. Get the answer in writing before signing the contract.

If a firm discloses intent to bid on repair work, that doesn’t disqualify them. It just means you need to be extra careful reviewing their recommendations. Consider getting a second opinion before proceeding with major repairs.

After the inspection or study is complete, keep the disclosure documentation with the report. If questions arise later about why certain repairs were recommended or how contractors were selected, you’ll have the paper trail.

Red Flags to Watch For

Some disclosure avoidance tactics have already emerged:

Vague language: “We may provide additional services if requested by the association.” That’s not disclosure. Require specific statements about intent to bid on repair work.

Post-inspection disclosure: An engineer completes your SIRS, then mentions during the presentation that they could handle the repairs too. That’s too late. Disclosure must happen before the contract is signed.

Related entity disclosure: “I don’t plan to bid, but my brother’s company might.” That requires disclosure under HB 913. Direct and indirect interests count.

Conditional disclosure: “We’ll only bid if you want us to.” That’s intent to bid. It requires disclosure.

If you encounter any of these situations, consult your association attorney before proceeding.

What to Tell Your CAM

If your Community Association Manager handles vendor selection, make sure they understand HB 913 requirements. CAMs should:

Include disclosure questions in all SIRS and milestone inspection RFPs
Get written responses before recommending contractors to the board
Flag any disclosure of intent to bid on repair work in their board presentation
Keep disclosure documentation with contract files

This isn’t extra work. It’s basic compliance with state law. A good CAM will appreciate the clarity.

Common Questions

What if we already hired an engineer who didn’t disclose? Check your contract date. If it was signed after July 1, 2025, and the engineer failed to disclose intent to bid on repair work, consult your attorney about voiding the contract. If the contract predates the law, you’re likely stuck, but watch for the issue in future contracts.

Can an engineer who did our SIRS bid on the repairs if they disclosed upfront? Yes. Disclosure doesn’t disqualify them. It just gives your board information to make an informed decision about whether to accept their bid.

What counts as “related” repair work? If the SIRS or milestone inspection identifies it, and the contractor plans to bid on it, that’s related. Roof replacement, structural repairs, waterproofing, electrical systems, plumbing. All of it.

Do we have to hire someone different for the inspection and the repairs? No. But you should get competitive bids for the repair work regardless of who did the inspection. Never sole-source major repairs.

What if no one discloses and we only find out later? Document the non-disclosure immediately. Consult your attorney about voiding the contract and report the professional to their licensing board if appropriate.

How CenturySync Helps Track Compliance

CenturySync stores your SIRS reports, milestone inspection reports, and related contracts in one searchable location. Upload the disclosure documentation with each contract. When questions arise later, you have instant access to the paper trail.

Set reminders for upcoming inspections and SIRS deadlines. When it’s time to solicit bids, the system prompts you to include disclosure requirements in your RFP. Compliance becomes routine instead of reactive.

Every document gets timestamped and archived. If a regulator or attorney asks for your disclosure records three years from now, you’ll have them.

The Bigger Picture

HB 913 is one piece of Florida’s post-Surfside reforms. It sits alongside mandatory milestone inspections, SIRS requirements, reserve funding rules, and stricter CAM oversight. Together, these laws aim to prevent another tragedy caused by deferred maintenance and conflicts of interest.

Your board can fight these requirements or embrace them. Fighting them wastes time and creates liability. Embracing them protects your association, your owners, and your property values.

Disclosure requirements aren’t bureaucratic red tape. They’re transparency mechanisms that help boards make better decisions. When you know who has a financial interest in recommending expensive repairs, you ask better questions. You get second opinions. You demand competitive bids.

That’s exactly what HB 913 was designed to accomplish.

What to Do Right Now

Review any pending SIRS or milestone inspection contracts. Do they include written disclosure about intent to bid on repair work? If not, get it in writing before signing.

Update your standard RFP templates to include the disclosure question. Make it prominent and require a written response.

If you’ve recently hired an engineer or contractor for structural work without getting disclosure, consult your attorney about whether the contract is compliant.

Train your board and CAM on HB 913 requirements. Fifteen minutes of education now prevents expensive legal problems later.

Most importantly, treat disclosure as a tool, not a burden. When professionals disclose their intentions, you make better decisions. When they don’t, you have legal remedies. Either way, your association wins.

Need help tracking SIRS reports, milestone inspections, and compliance documentation? CenturySync provides purpose-built tools for Florida COAs. Schedule a demo or meet with us by appointment only at the Walgreens Building (100-110 Century Blvd, Suite 202).

HB 913: New Disclosure Rules for SIRS and Milestone Inspection Bidding