Senate passes bill limiting HOA bans on solar panels

Lawmakers will vote on solar panels again next week when Sen. Royce-West, D-Dallas,

presents his major HOA bill to the Senate. The bill also requires associations to

show greater transparency, ensures homeowners pay late dues before attorney fees and

prevents foreclosure without a court order. A similar bill passed the House last

session but failed by a vote in the Senate.

West, who has pushed for stronger HOA regulation for years, also sponsored the solar

panel legislation that passed today on a fast track calendar. Homeowner supporters

see the reform bill as a barometer for potential change.

The Senate has already passed bills that would give greater voting rights to

homeowners and help prevent military families from returning to foreclosed homes.

The House has yet to act on legislation this session, although the Business and

Industry committee has jumped on a number of bills.

It approved a similar solar panel bill earlier this session, along with ones that

stipulate late dues get paid to HOAs before fines. In a special hearing yesterday

afternoon, the committee passed bills that would ban most fees on the sale of

property, restrict HOAs from prohibiting religious displays, require more

information for new homeowners about their associations and allow residents to put

campers or swimming pools on their adjacent property.

Both association representatives and homeowner supporters say things are moving

quicker than in previous sessions. They should know. Attempts at legislative reform

have stalled in both chambers for more than a decade.

But don't expect any outright bans on HOAs' ability to foreclosure.