Senate committee considers bill to let HOAs install EV chargers in common areas; homeowners raise cost and vote concerns

The Nevada Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB152 on Wednesday, a bill intended to make it easier for homeowners associations (HOAs) to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in common‑interest communities.

Senator James Orangehall (Senate District 21) and co‑presenter Michael DeLee told the committee the amended bill narrows focus to charging infrastructure in common areas rather than authorizing unit owners to install commercial chargers in their assigned parking spaces. Orangehall said the amendment reflects stakeholder input and seeks to ``cut through the red tape'' that can make installations expensive or require difficult owner votes under some associations’ governing documents.

Michael DeLee described the bill as permissive: it would allow an association to place chargers in common areas and require that those installations not increase costs to other unit owners or be treated as a capital improvement that must be funded through reserve studies or special assessments. DeLee and supporters said private vendors sometimes can install and operate charging stations at little or no upfront cost to associations, and the bill aims to let communities take advantage of existing electrical capacity.

Supporters included industry and environmental groups. Russell Rowe of Tesla said roughly 10 states have adopted similar measures and argued SB152 would reduce barriers in older HOAs where home charging is difficult. The Nevada Conservation League and the Sierra Club’s Toiyabe Chapter testified in support, pointing to transportation as the state’s largest pollution source and urging action to expand home‑charging options.

Opponents from several Las Vegas condominium associations urged caution. Mark Leon, president of Mountain’s Edge Pastoral Association (12,000 single‑family homes), urged clearer language to protect homeowners from added ongoing costs or liability, suggesting the bill be explicit that operations and liability also not be shifted to unit owners. Condo residents from Boca Raton Condominium Community Association argued the bill would override owners’ rights under CC&Rs by allowing boards to approve potentially costly installations without an owner vote; those witnesses said many associations struggle to fund existing needs and that commercial charging stations are increasingly available near most communities.

Neutral witnesses included the Community Association Institute (CAI), which said the amendment made important improvements but noted the association expects some costs (installation, electricity, insurance) and recommended the association recover those costs from users rather than all unit owners. NV Energy testified in neutral, saying it worked with sponsors on language to address the utility’s initial concerns.

Committee members asked whether the bill would prevent a unit owner from installing a private charger in a deeded parking space; presenters said the amended bill focuses on common areas and is not intended to prohibit an owner from installing a home charger where permitted by association rules and local code. Members also raised practical concerns about electrical capacity, parking allocation, overnight charging and the potential for installations to be considered capital improvements; sponsors said those issues motivated limiting the bill to board‑approved common‑area installations and pledged to refine language about costs, liability and nearby owner veto rights.

Senators closed the hearing on SB152 without a vote. Sponsors said they would continue to work with HOA groups, utilities and other stakeholders to clarify liability and cost recovery provisions before the work session.