HB 178 Summary

• Establishes an ombudsman's office for homeowner associations within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to investigate complaints, resolve disputes, and provide education to homeowner association members and board members.

• Creates an ombudsman's office special fund supported by condominium education trust fund fees and assessments from cooperative housing corporations and planned community associations, with no impact on the State's general fund.

• Requires all board members of condominiums, cooperative housing corporations, and planned community associations to complete educational classes offered by the ombudsman within three months of joining the board and every three years thereafter.

• Replaces the existing mediation and arbitration procedures with a new dispute intervention process administered by the ombudsman's office, including investigation by complaints and enforcement officers and contested case hearings presided over by the ombudsman.

• Effective January 1, 2024, with appropriation provisions taking effect July 1, 2023.