Minnesota lawmakers unveil bipartisan bill to tighten homeowner-association rules

State Representative Kristen Bonner, chair of the legislative work group on common interest communities and homeowner associations, on Wednesday unveiled a proposed Master Common Interest Community and Homeowner Association policy reform bill intended to provide "consumer protections for homeowners and solid guardrails" for associations, boards and property managers.

The bill, developed from a 14-meeting work group and multiple public listening sessions, would set standards for governance, open meetings and governing documents; create clearer procedures for fines, fees and foreclosure; address conflicts of interest; and establish dispute-resolution frameworks intended to give homeowners an internal process to contest alleged violations and fees.

"The bill before you encapsulates the expertise of work group members and the experience of homeowners to spell out in plain language a common sense set of reasonable standards to improve Minnesota law," Representative Kristen Bonner said. She said the package is one of several bills lawmakers plan to move this session, including a separate proposal for attorney-general enforcement, a bill to create an office of an ombudsman and a task force to study insurance impacts on affordability.

Vice Chair Eric Lucero, who identified himself as a real estate agent and the Republican lead on the Senate Housing Committee, described homeowner complaints collected during listening sessions and from constituents. Lucero recounted a case in which a homeowner…