Creates the homeowners association law to provide operational procedures for residential communities subject to the management of a homeowner association.

Rhode Island Homeowners Association Law – Plain English Summary

This bill would create a new set of rules and procedures specifically governing how homeowners associations (HOAs) operate in Rhode Island. An HOA is an organization that manages a residential community — such as a neighborhood, condominium complex, or planned development — and typically collects fees from residents to maintain shared spaces and enforce community rules. Currently, Rhode Island lacks a comprehensive law dedicated to HOAs, so this bill aims to fill that gap by establishing clear standards for how these organizations must conduct their business.

The bill would affect the estimated hundreds of thousands of Rhode Island residents who live in communities managed by an HOA, as well as the HOA boards that run those communities. It would set out formal procedures covering things like how HOAs hold meetings, make decisions, collect dues, enforce rules, and handle disputes with residents. The goal is to create consistency and transparency across all HOA-governed communities in the state.

For everyday homeowners, this could mean greater clarity about their rights and responsibilities when living under HOA management, as well as more defined processes if conflicts arise with their association. For HOA boards, it would establish clearer legal guidelines for how they must operate. At this stage, the bill has been introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, but has been held for further study, meaning it has not yet advanced through the legislative process.