Committee approves cap on homeowner‑association fines, advances amended HOA bill

The Senate Judiciary Committee on a recorded roll call approved amendments to House Bill 11‑15, a measure from Representative Olthoff that would cap fines and otherwise tighten rules for homeowners associations.

Representative Olthoff told the committee the bill "provides that any slate of fines that an HOA is going to adopt must have a cap," and members took multiple amendments, including one to lower the quorum for calling a special meeting to two‑thirds of owners.

Committee members debated whether the amendment that restricts extra fees would prevent HOAs from levying special assessments for extraordinary repairs. Senator Buck recounted a case in which a pool developed a severe crack and homeowners had to raise a special fee to pay for repairs; proponents responded that special assessments are distinct from the fees targeted in the amendment and that covenant processes generally allow assessments when needed.

Senator Brown asked whether existing governing documents would need rewriting; sponsors said they would work on clarifying language for second reading to ensure grandfathering of current contractual relationships where appropriate.

After discussion the committee approved an amendment by roll call (amendment vote recorded as 9–2) and later advanced the amended bill to the floor on a separate roll call (final committee vote recorded 10–1). The committee did not take public testimony on the bill before the votes.

What happens next: The bill moves to the Senate floor for further consideration and any second‑reading amendments that sponsors promised to draft to clarify grandfathering and service‑fee definitions.