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Senate committee holds package of condominium law changes for further study
Summary
The committee heard testimony on a set of condominium law bills covering deductible-notice requirements, mortgagee approval timelines, and remote participation rules for associations; after testimony from condo managers, attorneys and resident leaders, members voted to hold the bills for further study.
Lawmakers in the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government on April 3 took testimony on multiple bills aimed at modernizing condominium association rules and then voted to hold the measures for further study.
Senate Bill 496, 507, 508 and 509 (several introduced by different sponsors) address overlapping condominium concerns: notice to unit owners when an association’s master insurance deductible increases (SB507), a process for condominium associations to obtain mortgagee approvals within a fixed timeframe (SB508), and authority for associations to permit remote participation and electronic voting at meetings (SB509). Testimony emphasized operational impacts for associations and unit owners.
Property managers, association board members and attorneys testified in support. Patrick Holland of Barkin Management and Mary Joi Howes of Lombardi Law Group told the committee that a 30‑day notification requirement for deductible increases would give unit owners time to adjust homeowner policies and avoid large out‑of‑pocket costs. Holland said in his 25 years of management experience mortgagees often fail to respond to requests in a timely way, and the bill’s default approval after a fixed period would allow associations to proceed with time‑sensitive governance actions.
On remote participation, homeowners from the Polo Club Condominium Association said some unit owners are seasonal or not computer‑savvy and that remote meetings and electronic voting would increase participation and help achieve quorum. Several witnesses said a House‑side amendment (sub A) is being drafted to clarify notice, voting and special‑meeting procedures and to reduce the procedural burden on associations that would otherwise need to amend their declarations.
Industry participants sought precise language. Committee members questioned whether the SB507 notice should be phrased “within 30 days” rather than “at least 30 days,” reflecting insurer timing constraints when renewal terms are received shortly before expiration. Christy Hannaway of the Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island explained associations sometimes receive renewal terms only weeks before expiration and sponsors said the draft seeks to provide owners notice “as soon as possible” but no later than 30 days after the association learns of the deductible change.
After testimony, Vice Chair DeMario moved to hold the bills for further study; Senator Rogers seconded; the committee recorded the ayes and held SB496, SB507, SB508 and SB509 for further consideration and drafting.
No votes on the substantive policy changes were taken; sponsors and witnesses indicated they will work on clarified language that addresses notice timing, mortgagee response periods and the specifics of remote‑meeting notice and electronic voting procedures.
