California lawmakers could consider a bill next year to make Homeowners Associations (HOA) operate more like regulated governmental bodies.
CalMatters reported earlier in May that Asm. Joe Patterson (R–Rocklin) is considering a bill next year that would make HOAs subject to the open meeting laws that are required for local governments.
Driving the news: Asm. Carl DeMaio (R–Escondido) introduced Assembly Bill 21 this year, which would largely make HOAs act more like local governments.
- AB 21, called the Homeowner Association Accountability and Transparency Act of 2025, would make HOAs fall in line with the Brown Act when it comes to member communication outside of board meetings.
- The bill would prohibit a majority of HOA board members from communicating together outside of an authorized meeting – a central provision of the Brown Act for local governments.
- HOAs would be required to announce any pending litigation at board meetings and to announce any changes in their insurance policies.
- HOAs would also have to record their board meetings so the public could review them, and people would be able to review the minutes from the board meetings for free.
State of play: AB 21 did not make it out of the Committee on Housing and Community Development, even though it had bipartisan support, including Rocklin, the Committee’s Vice Chair, and Chairman Matt Haney (D–San Francisco).
- Patterson and DeMaio both told CalMatters that the bill likely failed because it was introduced by DeMaio, who is also a firebrand conservative radio host in southern California.
What we’re watching: Patterson told CalMatters that he has received interest from Democratic colleagues who want to co-sponsor a potential re-run of AB 21 next year.
What they’re saying: “If they can tax you, if they can encumber your property rights, they’re governmental decisions,” DeMaio told CalMatters, referring to HOAs. “And so they should be subjected to the open meetings and public records laws like any other public entity.”
