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Rep. Charlie Kimball proposes bill to require digital access for homeowners association meetings
Summary
Rep. Charlie Kimball introduced Act 562 to require homeowners associations and common‑interest communities to make meetings digitally accessible to members who cannot attend in person, citing a constituent who felt disenfranchised.
Rep. Charlie Kimball, a representative from Woodstock and member of the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced Act 562 on Jan. 13, saying the bill would require homeowners associations and other common‑interest communities to make meetings accessible by digital means so members who cannot attend in person can participate.
Kimball said the proposal responds to a constituent who felt she was unable to participate in condominium meetings and ‘‘felt disenfranchised’’ when decisions were made without her input. He described Act 562 as a short, targeted change to ensure members can access meetings by digital platforms.
Committee members asked whether the bill would subject private associations to the state open‑meeting law or simply require hybrid access for members. Kimball told the committee the intent is to require digital accessibility for members of the association rather than to reclassify HOAs as public bodies. Members also asked whether the requirement would allow remote voting; Kimball said the bill is intended to enable participation and that if a vote came up remote participants would be able to participate.
The committee discussed how the statute would apply across housing arrangements. Members noted the term ‘‘common interest ownership’’ is intended to include condominiums, co‑ops and manufactured home communities, though several members sought cross‑references to existing statutory sections cited in committee discussion.
One committee member described local HOA practice: Zoom meetings have been used except for annual meetings, and the member said remote meetings increased participation. Other members emphasized that homeowners associations are private organizations and are not currently subject to the state open‑meeting law; some village or municipal rules that allow digital access were discussed as analogous precedent.
The committee thanked Kimball for the presentation and did not take a formal vote during the session. The bill will be available for further committee consideration and possible referral; committee members indicated they may clarify statutory cross‑references and the limits of digital voting before advancing any formal recommendation.
