H.B. 200 Summary

• Expands mandatory mediation for condominium disputes to include any dispute involving interpretation or enforcement of the association's declaration, bylaws, house rules, or Chapter 514B, provided the parties have not already mediated the same dispute and no court action has commenced.

• Reduces the additional annual condominium education trust fund fee from $1.50 per unit to 75 cents per unit, effective July 1, 2017, to support mediation of condominium-related disputes.

• Allows surplus funds collected for the mediation fee to be redirected to any educational purpose under section 514B-71(a) and requires the next biennium's fee to be decreased by an amount nearly equal to any anticipated surplus.

• Narrows the exceptions to mandatory mediation to disputes involving threatened property damage, health or safety concerns, assessments, personal injury claims, and matters affecting insurance coverage availability.

• Establishes procedures for compelling mediation through circuit court, including a 45-day deadline to agree on a mediator and limits attorney's fees awards in such proceedings to $200.