Staying Up on New Legislation: The Role of Your HOA Management Company
The 2017 Nevada Legislative Session, which begins on February 6, 2017, is quickly approaching. Although legislative sessions only convene every two years for 120 days at a time, lawmakers often present and pass bills that affect homeowners associations (both positively and negatively). In fact, several items affecting HOAs are likely to be on the table in the 2017 session.
How will you know whether bills that impact your HOA become law? Even more crucial if you are a board member, how will you know whether you need to make changes to your governing documents or to any of your internal processes as a result?
Legislative changes can sometimes impact an association’s ability to regulate certain matters (such as flags, political signage, satellite dishes, trash cans or security shutters). An HOA that doesn’t know about the new laws or doesn’t know how to implement changes in order to be compliant can face legal ramifications.
An effective community management company can and should play an important role in helping your HOA. Read on to find out four things you should expect your management company to do before, during and after the 79th session of the Nevada Legislation convenes.
1. Stay abreast of the legislative process.
Your management company should be following relevant bills from beginning to end:
Participating in the legislative process and making your voice heard is something that all HOA communities need to do. Laws affecting HOAs are otherwise created based on input from a small, vocal minority. An active management company can provide information and organize events to help your community get involved. For example, FirstService Residential in Nevada is holding its second Day at the Capitol event on March 28, 2017. This event provides board members with the opportunity to visit Carson City, attend hearings and speak with their legislators.
3. Provide you with frequent updates.
By keeping you informed at every step, your management company enables you to be proactive in preparing for potential changes. Sending out flyers or other collateral materials that explain changes to the law in language that is understandable (rather than in the usual “legalese”) is also something you want your management company to do. Additionally, the company should make you aware of any personal impact these changes may have on you and the other residents in your community.
4. Give you the guidance and tools you need.
Knowing exactly what your association needs to do to be compliant with new laws can be tricky territory. A professional community management company will have the experience to guide you in altering your processes, help you amend your governing documents (if needed) and communicate changes with your residents.
When it comes to steering your HOA’s future, it helps to be familiar with the legislative process and to stay involved as much as possible. Plan to attend FirstService Residential’s Day at the Capitol so your voice gets heard. Gain a better understanding of existing laws by taking a look at NRS 116 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, Common-Interest Ownership (Uniform Act).
Being on top of important legislation and understanding what you need to do to keep up with new laws is not always easy to do on your own. If your current community management company isn’t providing the information and guidance you need, or if you simply want to learn more about how a professional management company can help you get a better handle on HOA laws in Nevada, contact FirstService Residential, Nevada's leading community management company.
How will you know whether bills that impact your HOA become law? Even more crucial if you are a board member, how will you know whether you need to make changes to your governing documents or to any of your internal processes as a result?
Legislative changes can sometimes impact an association’s ability to regulate certain matters (such as flags, political signage, satellite dishes, trash cans or security shutters). An HOA that doesn’t know about the new laws or doesn’t know how to implement changes in order to be compliant can face legal ramifications.
An effective community management company can and should play an important role in helping your HOA. Read on to find out four things you should expect your management company to do before, during and after the 79th session of the Nevada Legislation convenes.
1. Stay abreast of the legislative process.
Your management company should be following relevant bills from beginning to end:
- When a Bill Draft Request (BDR) is first submitted
- When the BDR becomes a full bill
- When the bill makes it out of committee
- When it passes each house
- When the bill is signed into law
Participating in the legislative process and making your voice heard is something that all HOA communities need to do. Laws affecting HOAs are otherwise created based on input from a small, vocal minority. An active management company can provide information and organize events to help your community get involved. For example, FirstService Residential in Nevada is holding its second Day at the Capitol event on March 28, 2017. This event provides board members with the opportunity to visit Carson City, attend hearings and speak with their legislators.
3. Provide you with frequent updates.
By keeping you informed at every step, your management company enables you to be proactive in preparing for potential changes. Sending out flyers or other collateral materials that explain changes to the law in language that is understandable (rather than in the usual “legalese”) is also something you want your management company to do. Additionally, the company should make you aware of any personal impact these changes may have on you and the other residents in your community.
4. Give you the guidance and tools you need.
Knowing exactly what your association needs to do to be compliant with new laws can be tricky territory. A professional community management company will have the experience to guide you in altering your processes, help you amend your governing documents (if needed) and communicate changes with your residents.
When it comes to steering your HOA’s future, it helps to be familiar with the legislative process and to stay involved as much as possible. Plan to attend FirstService Residential’s Day at the Capitol so your voice gets heard. Gain a better understanding of existing laws by taking a look at NRS 116 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, Common-Interest Ownership (Uniform Act).
Being on top of important legislation and understanding what you need to do to keep up with new laws is not always easy to do on your own. If your current community management company isn’t providing the information and guidance you need, or if you simply want to learn more about how a professional management company can help you get a better handle on HOA laws in Nevada, contact FirstService Residential, Nevada's leading community management company.