Legislative

Ending of Another Legislative Year: CAI-CLAC 2025

The CAI California Legislative Action Committee (CLAC) wrapped up their annual efforts in Sacramento for the year 2025. Below is a list of some of the wins and losses from this calendar year.

Homeowner Association Accountability - AB 21 (DeMaio)

Cap on Fines- AB 130 (Committee on Budget)

CID Real Estate Broker License - AB 739 (Jackson)

Balcony Inspection Cover Page - SB 410 (Grayson)

Insurance Limits - SB 547 (Perez)

Streamlined Architectural Procedures - SB 625 (Wahab),

Invalidate Restrictions during Rebuilding - SB 677 (Wiener)

EV Charging Station - SB 770 (Allen)

For More Information on each of these:

https://caiclac.com/clac-accomplishments/

Do your part to make your voices heard in Sacramento. Continue to support CLAC, and make sure to respond to emails and calls to action to limit harmful legislation from Sacramento.

Join us in supporting the vital advocacy efforts of CAI-CLAC, Community Managers, and Association Members. As leaders and champions within our community, your role is pivotal in shaping the future of our Homeowners Associations. 

The efforts of CAI-CLAC have been instrumental in protecting the interests of Homeowners Associations, and continuing this work requires the support and collaboration of dedicated partners like you. CAI-CLAC is eager to work alongside you and your team to ensure you have the resources necessary to support this advocacy. We invite you to participate in the "Buck A Door or More Fundraising Campaign." This initiative helps maintain a steady flow of donations, enabling CAI-CLAC to keep advocating effectively on behalf of our communities.

Please download the Buck 'a' Door Campaign letter and information below and present it to your Board of Directors for consideration. Local CLAC leaders are available to visit with your team, offering insights and tools to empower your continued support. Your contribution, no matter the size, plays a critical role in amplifying our collective voice and navigating the complexities of the legislative landscape.

CLAC - Buck 'a' Door Campaign Letter to Management.pdf

The California Legislative Action Committee (CLAC) is a committee of the Community Associations Institute (CAI), an international not-for- profit educational and resource organization dedicated to fostering vibrant, competent and harmonious community associations. CAI-CLAC is dedicated to monitoring and influencing legislation that affects community associations in California. CAI-CLAC is proactive in introducing and advocating for legislation that is beneficial to community associations and is active in opposing legislation that may have an adverse impact on community associations. CAI-CLAC has influenced legislation affecting many aspects of the Davis-Stirling Act, including covenant enforcement, elections, board meetings, assessment collection, electronic voting, resale disclosure, etc.

Over the past decade, the funds raised through the Buck A Door (or more!) campaign have continued to enable CAI- CLAC to create positive relationships with state legislators on behalf of the 55,000+ community associations in California. In 2024, we were back in person at the capitol! In addition to meeting in person, we hosted virtual advocacy day. We had a record number of meetings with legislative offices and coupled with the virtual meetings we had a very successful advocacy week. We look forward to holding both events in 2025 as these annual events help CAI-CLAC members continue to build strong connections with legislators, advocate for the concerns of community association members and to have their voices heard.

Buck-A-Door Fundraising Form

CAI-CLAC successfully got its slate of three (3) proposed bills enacted into law and worked to get amendments into a fourth bill that will ultimately provide associations with flexibility in addressing emergency repairs to utility lines in common areas. As we move into the 2025 legislative year, CLAC remains committed to monitoring, evaluating, and providing input on legislation affecting community associations.

Learn more about CLAC and the 2024 accomplishments here: CLAC Accomplishments - California Legislative Action Committee - CAI-CLAC

These bills would not have been enacted without help from local Chapter members, including volunteers on the Legislative Support Committee (LSC). LSC members regularly take time to visit with legislators and discuss the benefits and necessity of pending bills. We are grateful to all the legislators that allowed our members to visit them this year, and their being willing to not only listen, but also take action to support and strengthen our communities. We look forward to working closely with them again in 2025. Read more about the legislative visits here: CAI-GRIE Legislative CAI-GRIE Visits - Issuu

As a reminder, the CAI-CLAC 2025 Advocacy Week will be in-person at the Capitol in Sacramento on April 22 – 24, 2025. We hope you will join us in our continued efforts to build stronger California community associations. Learn more about Advocacy Week here: Advocacy Week - California Legislative Action Committee - CAI-CLAC

Per SB 326, associations must complete visual inspections of exterior elevated elements (load-bearing balconies, decks, patios, etc.) by no later than January 1, 2025. These inspections, to date, needed to be performed by structural engineers or architects. However, AB 2114 adds to that short list, a “licensed civil engineer” as someone qualified to perform the inspection.

LEGISLATIVE CAI-CLAC Update 2024–2025 Legislative Update: Elections, Elections, Elections (and More!) - Issuu

Read More: Bill Text - AB-2114 Building standards: exterior elevated elements: inspection.

This bill expands on the legal obligation of associations to maintain, repair, and replace the association's common areas, or other components required by the governing documents. This bill mandates associations be responsible for repairing and replacing any components necessary to restore interrupted gas, heat, water, or electrical services, if those components begin in the common area, and even if they extend into other areas, such as the unit itself. Under Section 4775 of Civil Code, boards must begin the repair process within 14 days. 

Read More: LEGISLATIVE CAI-CLAC Update 2024–2025 Legislative Update: Elections, Elections, Elections (and More!) - Issuu

AB 2159, this CAI-CLAC sponsored bill finally puts into law, associations’ right to implement electronic voting, in the place of distributing secret written ballots. Specifically, Civil Code Section 5105 now provides that associations may adopt an election operating rule, to allow owners to either “opt-in” or “opt-out” of electronic voting, as long as certain procedures are followed. If owners opt out under the association’s election rules, they must be given a secret written ballot (per usual), and they must also be provided with individual notice at least 30 days before the deadline to opt out of electronic secret ballot voting.

Read the Article from CAI-GRIE Member - Kevin Langley of HOA Election Guys https://issuu.com/cai-grie/docs/connectmagazine_q4_2024-pf5-121124-singles/s/62949061

Read More: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2159

Update from December 23rd, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay on the injunction previously granted by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas earlier this month. This ruling reinstated the January 1, 2025, deadline for beneficial ownership information filings under the CTA for all community associations.

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On Dec. 3, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas published a decision in the matter of Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., et al. v. Garland, et al. issuing a preliminary nationwide injunction against the Corporate Transparency Act (Act). The court granted Plaintiff’s request for a preliminary injunction, blocking the U.S. Department of Treasury from enforcing the act’s beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements.

The court granted Plaintiff’s request for a preliminary injunction, blocking the U.S. Department of Treasury from enforcing the act’s beneficial ownership information reporting requirements.

Read more: https://www.caionline.org/advocacy/advocacy-priorities-overview/corporate-transparency-act/

Florida Lawmakers Pass Condominium Safety Legislation

This week the Florida legislature was in special session and condominium safety was one of three initiatives addressed.  CAI Florida Legislative Alliance is pleased to announce that SB 4D – Building Safety Act for condominium and cooperative associations passed unanimously.

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Call to Action!

CAI-CLAC has proposed changes to the CA FAIR Plan to help increase access to insurance coverage and help reduce overall rates. Please join us in showing your support. Email the Insurance Commissioner today!

July 29, 2022

Thank you to our community members who engaged with our recent call-to-action to voice your concerns regarding AB 1410. Even though the bill passed the Judiciary Committee yesterday, it was significantly amended. The Code of Conduct and mandatory education language has been deleted from the bill. We view this as a victory and those who voiced their concerns helped make this happen. — CAI-CLAC