HB 1501 Summary

• Establishes an ombudsman's office for condominium associations within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to investigate complaints, provide dispute intervention, and enforce condominium laws without charging unit owners fees.

• Requires condominium board members to complete mandatory educational classes offered by the ombudsman within three months of joining the board and every three years thereafter.

• Creates an ombudsman's office special fund funded by 100% of condominium education trust fund fees and administrative penalties collected, with no impact on the state's general fund.

• Repeals mandatory mediation and arbitration procedures (sections 514B-161 and 514B-162) and replaces them with a dispute intervention process administered by the ombudsman's office with binding decisions and appeal rights to circuit court.

• Appropriates funds from the condominium education trust fund for fiscal year 2023-2024 to establish the ombudsman's office; effective January 1, 2024.