Substitute House Bill No. 7002 seeks to amend laws governing common interest ownership communities, particularly regarding the assessment of common expenses and the installation of solar power systems. The bill modifies the language concerning common expense assessments by replacing "at least" with "not less than," mandating that these assessments be made annually based on a budget adopted by the association. It introduces a new provision allowing increased common expenses to be assessed solely against the unit owner responsible for any alterations that lead to such increases. Additionally, it clarifies that unit owners cannot exempt themselves from liability for common expenses and outlines conditions for assessments related to damages caused by unit owners or their guests.

The bill also establishes a formal process for unit owners in single-family detached units to install solar power systems, stating that any prohibitions or unreasonable restrictions on such installations will be unenforceable starting January 1, 2026. Unit owners must submit applications to the executive board, which must acknowledge receipt within 30 days and process the application within 60 days; failure to respond results in automatic approval. The bill requires unit owners to comply with specific installation requirements, including hiring licensed contractors and covering costs, while also mandating that they disclose the existence of solar systems to prospective buyers. Furthermore, associations may opt out of these solar panel requirements by a supermajority vote, and the bill repeals previous limitations on planned community associations regarding solar installations, broadening solar access rights.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 47-257
PD Joint Favorable: 47-257
File No. 272: 47-257