D.C. Law 25-195. Association Meeting Flexibility Temporary Amendment Act of 2024.

AN ACT

To amend, on a temporary basis, the Condominium Act of 1976 to authorize condominium unit owners' associations to conduct virtual meetings and to clarify voting and quorum requirements for such meetings; and to amend section 29-910 of the District of Columbia Official Code to allow cooperatives to conduct remote meetings.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Association Meeting Flexibility Temporary Amendment Act of 2024".

Sec. 2. Section 303 of the Condominium Act of 1976, effective March 29, 1977 (D.C. Law 1-89; D.C. Official Code § 42-1903.03), is amended by adding new a subsection (f) to read as follows:

"(f) Notwithstanding any language contained in this act or in the condominium instruments:

"(1) The executive board may authorize unit owners to submit votes by electronic transmission up to 7 days before the scheduled date of any meeting of the unit owners, and unit owners who submit votes during such period shall be deemed to be present and voting in person at such meeting.

"(2)(A) Meetings of the unit owners' association, board of directors, or committees may be conducted or attended by telephone conference, video conference, or similar electronic means. If a meeting is conducted by telephone conference, video conference, or similar electronic means, the equipment or system used must permit any unit owner in attendance to hear and be heard by, and to comprehend what is said by, all other unit owners participating in the meeting. Any unit owner, board member, or committee member attending such meeting remotely shall be deemed present for quorum purposes.

"(B) A link or instructions on how to access an electronic meeting shall be included in the notice required under subsection (a) of this section.

"(C) Any matters requiring a vote of the unit owners' association at an annual or regular meeting may be set by the executive board for a vote, and a ballot may be delivered with the notice required under subsection (a) of this section. The executive board may set a reasonable deadline for a ballot to be returned to the association.".

Sec. 3. Section 29-910 of the District of Columbia Official Code is amended by striking the phrase "If authorized by the articles or bylaws" and inserting the phrase "Regardless of whether remote regular and special meetings of members are authorized by the articles or bylaws" in its place.

Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 5. Effective date.

(a) This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)).

(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.

Law Information

Cites

  • D.C. Law 25-195 (PDF)
  • 71 DCR 6754

Effective

July 19, 2024

Legislative History (LIMS)

Law 25-195, the “Association Meeting Flexibility Temporary Amendment Act of 2024,” was introduced in the Council and assigned Bill No. 25-767 which was retained by the Council. The bill was adopted on first and second readings on Apr. 2, 2024, and May 7, 2024, respectively. After mayoral review, it was assigned Act No. 25-483 on May 29, 2024, and transmitted to Congress for its review. D.C. Law 25-195 became effective July 19, 2024.