May 2025 Newsletter
- Admin
- May 21
- 4 min read
Updated: May 22
May’s newsletter reports on some of the legislation we’ve been working on to help protect your rights as a homeowner in a common ownership community. If you have suggestions for topics, or would like to share an opinion piece, please contact us at contact.charm-md@gmail.com.
We’re also happy to report we are now officially registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which allows us to raise funds, among other things.
In This Issue
2025 CHARM-supported bills that are now law
Other HOA-related bills that are now law
New Laws in Maryland will Aid COC Homeowners: The 2025 Legislative Session in a Nutshell
CHARM Maryland supported the first two bills listed below which we expect will improve the governance and the well-being of individual homeowners living in common ownership communities (COCs) including condos, HOAs, and co-ops. These laws will come into force in October 2025.
Our brief analysis of each law is below. Select the bill number (live link) to read the official synopsis of the new law (which we excerpt below) and to access the law in full. Although further reforms are needed, we believe that the year 2025 might be a turning point for COC homeowners who are aiming to secure their rights in the State of Maryland.
BILLS SUPPORTED BY CHARM THAT ARE NOW LAW
Elections, Financial Statements, and Enforcement. SB758.
Sponsor: Senator Kagan
Synopsis: This bill, among other provisions, establishes certain requirements for elections of the governing body of a condominium or homeowners association (HOA) and requires the governing body of a condominium to make reasonable accommodations for owners to engage in organizing activities relating to the governance of the condominium. The bill prohibits a condominium or HOA from imposing a charge on a unit/lot owner for the examination or receipt by electronic transmission of financial statements. The bill also authorizes the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to adopt regulation to carry out provisions of the Maryland Condominium Act (MCA) and Maryland Homeowners Association Act (MHAA).
Analysis by CHARM Maryland: This law aims to make COC elections more fair and more open. It also requires associations to make financial records available for free to homeowner-members, but only if the board chooses electronic delivery. Finally, it authorizes the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to enforce all Maryland State COC laws, and we expect to see the OAG stepping up more often to curb association abuses when homeowners provide evidence of misdeeds.
Sponsors: Delegates Holmes and Terrasa; Senator Watson
Synopsis: Altering certain provisions relating to the filing, maintenance, and transmittal of land records; and defining "land record" as any document recorded by a clerk of the circuit court relating to property.
Analysis by CHARM Maryland: We believe in transparency. Getting access to our own communities’ governing documents has been, for some individual COC homeowners, very difficult, and this bill might help.
OTHER BILLS THAT PASSED
CHARM Maryland took no position on the following two bills, but since they will soon be state law, we hope to see them implemented in a way that benefits COC homeowners and the communities we live in.
Funding of Reserve Accounts - 5 years. HB292.
Sponsors: Delegates Holmes, Roberts, Hartman, Allen, Boyce, and Foley
Synopsis: Requiring that certain funds for certain reserve accounts be deposited on or before the last day of each fiscal year; requiring the governing body of a cooperative housing corporation, a residential condominium, or a homeowners association to prepare a certain funding plan subject to certain requirements; authorizing a reasonable deviation from certain reserve funding requirements following a certain financial hardship determination; requiring that certain updated reserve studies be prepared by a certain person; etc.
Analysis by CHARM Maryland: SB63/HB292 amends 11-109.2 to require the governing body to "annually review the reserves" under 11-109.4, where the requirement is repeated with more specificity requiring annual review of the reserve funding plan AT EACH ANNUAL MEETING.
The effect is that either the board or the council of (all) unit owners shall review the reserves to create, propose, or adopt the plan, but the actual review (not necessarily a vote) of the actual plan must be done by the members because it is taking place at the annual meeting. This prevents boards from hiding the reserve study using the excuse that it is not finalized. If no plan is presented or reviewed, final or not, the law is violated.
Nonprofit Organizations Navigator. SB365.
Sponsors: Senators Kagan, Sydnor, and M. Washington
Synopsis:
Establishing a nonprofit organizations navigator within the MD Department of Commerce to provide certain technical assistance to nonprofit organizations, to work with nonprofits and units of State government to resolve complexities and delays in State grant-making processes, collect and share certain information, and represent nonprofits interest and concerns as a member of the Maryland Efficient Grant Application Council; etc.
Analysis by CHARM Maryland:
We are hopeful that this improved service will be beneficial to individual homeowners living in Common Association Communities, as well as to the COC governing bodies.
Contact CHARM-MD
The editors of The CHARM Newsletter are eager to receive opinion pieces and reportage (with documentation) about HOA abuses, governance, and reform. Corrections are welcome. We also invite you to become a supporter when you visit our website.
Reach us at:
Website: www.CHARM-MD.org
Email: charm.md.contact@gmail.com
Be sure to share your story about your community and its HOA.
Visit: www.charm-md.org/stories.
