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Committee refers bill to give attorney general enforcement authority over HOAs
Summary
The committee voted to re-refer House File 1931 to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee after testimony that the Attorney General's office receives hundreds of HOA complaints and supports explicit enforcement authority under chapter 515B.
The House Committee on Housing Finance and Policy re‑referred House File 1931 to the Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law after unanimous voice votes and testimony urging enhanced enforcement for homeowners and associations.
Representative Bonner described House File 1931 as implementing a unanimous set of recommendations from a bipartisan legislative workgroup that studied common-interest communities and homeowners associations. "The bill does one simple thing," Bonner said: it makes clear that the Office of the Attorney General has authority to enforce protections under Minnesota Statutes chapter 515B.
Jessica Whitney, deputy attorney general and head of the Consumer Protection Section, testified the AG's office supports the bill and already receives many HOA-related complaints. "To date this year, in the first 3 months, we've already received 98," Whitney said, adding the office is on pace to receive hundreds of complaints each year and that the bill would help the office protect consumers, boards and associations "without fears of retaliation." She also said the office believes it currently has sufficient staffing to begin enforcement if the authority is granted.
Homeowner testimony emphasized alleged business practices that leave residents vulnerable. Becky Cole, a homeowner, described a management company that she said was a sole signer on a large out-of-state bank account and alleged firms advising boards on foreclosure eligibility without offering payment plans. "These are business practices that in any other industry would be regulated and be considered wrong," she said, urging the AG have clear authority to intervene.
Committee members asked about staffing and the AG's capacity to take on enforcement. Whitney said investigations are active and that, at present, the office believes it has the staffing capacity; she noted the office could return if resource needs change.
Representative Mecklen moved and the committee agreed to re-refer House File 1931 to Judiciary Finance and Civil Law by voice vote. No roll-call tally was recorded in the committee minutes.
