Provides that the “meetings” requirements from § 34-36.1-3.08 be applicable to condominiums created before July 1, 1982, and would permit remote participation in condominium meetings.
H5156 amends Rhode Island’s Condominium Law to extend the current meeting-notice and meeting-conduct rules in § 34-36.1-3.08 to condominiums created before July 1, 1982, which are otherwise governed in part by older condominium statutes. The bill also expressly authorizes condominium associations and executive boards to hold annual, special, and board meetings by electronic means, including teleconference, videoconference, email, electronic voting platforms, and mail-in ballot where permitted, so long as quorum and voting requirements are met. It further allows meeting notices to be delivered electronically by email or posted to a secure website or portal, if the unit owner has given written consent, and allows owners to revoke that consent later.
The bill is primarily procedural and governance-focused rather than substantive in property rights. It preserves existing declarations, bylaws, plats, and plans for older condominiums while making the meeting provisions applicable prospectively, and it does not alter the basic structure of condominium ownership or taxation. In practical terms, it updates the law to reflect modern communication methods and makes it easier for associations and unit owners to participate in governance, especially in older condominium communities that may not have been operating under the newer statutory framework.
The overall sentiment around the bill appears strongly favorable. The House Committee on Corporations advanced the substitute version unanimously, and the full House passed the bill 70-0, indicating broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition. The lack of recorded negative votes suggests the measure was viewed as a common-sense modernization of condominium governance.
There is little evidence of major contention in the available materials. The main policy issue implicit in the bill is balancing convenience and modernization against traditional in-person governance and notice practices, particularly for older condominiums that may have legacy governing documents. The bill addresses that concern by making electronic notice and remote participation optional and consent-based for owners, while still preserving the authority of associations to set procedures within the statutory framework.
The bill amends Rhode Island General Laws chapter 34-36.1, the Condominium Law, by making the meeting and notice rules in § 34-36.1-3.08 expressly applicable to condominiums created before July 1, 1982, and by updating that section to authorize remote participation and electronic notice. It affects condominium associations, executive boards, and unit owners by expanding the methods available for meetings, voting, signatures, and notice delivery, while preserving existing governing documents and prior lawful actions. The act takes effect upon passage.
The bill’s reception was overwhelmingly positive. It passed the House Committee on Corporations 13-0 and then passed the full House 70-0, indicating broad agreement that the measure is a practical modernization of condominium governance. No committee testimony or recorded floor opposition is provided, and the voting history suggests little to no controversy.
No major contention is evident in the available record. The only likely area of concern is the shift from traditional in-person meetings and paper notice to electronic participation and electronic notice, which could raise questions about access, consent, and compliance for some unit owners. The bill addresses those issues by requiring written consent for electronic notice and allowing owners to opt out, while preserving the ability of associations to conduct meetings in person or electronically as determined by the executive board.