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Two condominium bills seek clearer election rules and mandatory unit-owner insurance
Summary
Delegates discussed House Bill 15-34 (election procedures for common ownership communities) and House Bill 15-41 (requiring HO-6 insurance for condominium unit owners). Sponsors said the measures aim to improve election integrity and protect associations and owners from high master-policy deductibles.
Delegate Vanessa E. Holmes (presenting HB 15-34 and HB 15-41) asked the committee to consider two measures addressing condominium governance and insurance. The first, HB 15-34, sets minimum standards for elections in common-ownership communities (condominiums, cooperatives and homeowners associations) and permits a governing body to retain a third-party vendor to administer elections. The sponsor said third-party administration is relatively inexpensive and can prevent election manipulation.
The second measure, HB 15-41, would require condominium unit owners to maintain a homeowners'type HO-6 policy. Holmes said rising condominium master-policy deductibles and insurer market exits make unit-owner coverage more important so an individual unit owner is not forced to carry the association's deductible after a loss; sponsor estimated a modest annual premium for HO-6 coverage.
Supporters framed the bills as consumer-protection and governance-improvement measures; committee members asked about implementation, cost impact on owners and enforcement. Holmes said HB 15-41 would apply only to condominiums, not all common-ownership communities, and that estimated premium costs are low relative to potential liability from master-policy deductibles.
No formal committee action occurred the day of the hearing; sponsors said they will work with stakeholders to refine cost and enforcement language.
