Happy Easter and Passover to everyone!

As you may know, our firm posts an update to any bills pending in the Arizona legislature every  week while in session.  I haven’t been blogging too much about what is going on at the Arizona Legislature since it has been a quiet legislative year for community associations (thank goodness).  Right now, the legislature is “knee-deep” in budget negotiations and until the budget is resolved things will be quiet for community associations.  Here is a quick recap of what is going on to date in the Arizona Legislature:

The Arizona Legislature opened the Fifty-Fourth First Regular Session on Monday, January 9, 2017.  As of April 10, 2017, 2,550 bills have been introduced in the House and 1,550 bills in the Senate.   Our firm is closely monitoring 14 community association bills as outlined below:

Check out this week’s summary by clicking this link!

As you can see from our summary, one community association technical correction bill has already signed by the Governor:

SB1060 HOA/Condo Dispute Process

This is a technical correction bill that formally moves the administrative hearings dispute process for members of a condominium or a planned community from the dissolved Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety (DFBLS) to the Arizona Department of Real Estate Department (ADRE).   Note:  Effective last Summer, hearings were being held at the ADRE, this is just to formalize this change.

Applies to Planned Communities and Condominiums.

And, interestingly, one bill which would have banned cumulative voting once and for all was vetoed by the Governor on March 31, 2017 (so this bill is dead):

HB2321 Homeowners’ Associations; Cumulative Voting; Prohibition

This bill prohibits cumulative voting.

Applies to Planned Communities and Condominiums.

Our firm is closely watching one bill that had movement last week:

HB2411 Homeowners’ Associations; Open Meetings

This bill changes some of the requirements of the open meeting law.  Boards can no longer require advance notice of audio or video-taping open board meetings.  If the board audio or video-tapes an open board meeting, and makes it available to owners on request, the board can prohibit audio or video-taping of open board meetings. The notice of any annual, special or regular meeting of owners must state the purpose for which the meeting is called. Before entering executive session, the board shall identify the section that authorized the board to close the meeting.  At any emergency meeting called by the Board, the Board may only act on emergency matters.

Applies to both condominiums and planned communities.

  

Passed House; Transmitted to Senate, 1st and 2nd read completed, in Committee; Passed Government Committee 2/28/17

Not active since 3/1/17; Majority and Minority Caucuses voted yes on 4/4/17

 

If you would like to be involved in the legislative process, please go to the Arizona Legislature website, www.azleg.gov, to find lists of legislators, phone numbers and calendars regarding Committee work. Or, please feel free to contact me at any time with questions regarding the status of bills or the legislative process (office:  602.241.1093).

Please stay tuned for legislative developments over the next few months!