---
title: HB 1251. Right to Information for Homeowners Act; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1251
cite_as: HB 1251, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1251
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1251.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1251/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73018
date: 2026-02-11
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1251.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1251
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-09
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Viola Davis
- Sandra Scott
- Kim Schofield
- Akbar Ali
- Rhonda Taylor
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1251/2025
upstream_id: 2112276
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- homeowners associations
- condominium law
- property owner rights
- government transparency
- housing
---
# HB 1251. Right to Information for Homeowners Act; enact
## Text
House Bill 1251
By: Representatives Davis of the 87th, Scott of the 76th, Schofield of the 63rd, Ali of the 106th,
and Taylor of the 92nd
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 3 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
regulation of specialized land transactions, so as to provide for community associations to
disclose documents to unit owners upon request; to provide for community associations to
maintain certain records; to provide for the creation of an online database; to provide for
annual reports; to provide for a civil action; to provide for attorney's fees; to provide for
penalties; to provide for definitions; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters;
to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Right to Information for Homeowners
Act."
SECTION 2.
Chapter 3 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of
specialized land transactions, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:
"ARTICLE 8
44-3-300.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) 'Community association' or 'association' means a nongovernmental association of
participating members in a delineated geographic area comprising a neighborhood,
condominium, cooperative, or group of homeowners or property owners, including, but
not limited to, a homeowners' association, condominium association, and property
owners' association.
(2) 'Condominium association' means an organization or corporation formed pursuant
to Article 3 of this chapter, the 'Georgia Condominium Act,' for the purpose of exercising
the powers of an association of any condominium under such Act.
(3) 'Critical documents' means documents held by the community association that are
affiliated with the workings of the association, including insurance policies held by or for
the benefit of the association, bank statements for all association accounts, financial
statements, including budgets, income and expense reports, and audits, governing
documents, covenants, bylaws, rules, meeting minutes of the board of directors and
committees, and contracts entered into on behalf of the association.
(4) 'Homeowners' association' means an organization or corporation of homeowners or
declarants or developers of a particular subdivision, planned community, or condominium
that makes and enforces rules for the properties within its jurisdiction and has an elected
board of directors that enforces and oversees the organization's governing documents.
(5) 'Property owners' association' means a corporation formed pursuant to Article 6 of
this chapter, the 'Georgia Property Owners' Association Act,' for the purpose of
exercising the powers of an association of property owners under such Act.
(6) 'Unit' means a portion of the community association intended for any type of
independent ownership and use.
(7) 'Unit owner' means the owner of a unit subject to a community association.
44-3-301.
(a) Community associations shall provide unit owners with access to critical documents.
(b) Community associations shall make records available within 14 days of the request
either electronically or as physical copies at reasonable cost.
(c) Community associations shall maintain a secure online database containing critical
documents and allow unit owners to access such database.
44-3-302.
(a) Community associations shall publish an annual report including:
(1) Current insurance policies;
(2) A summary of the association's financial health, including reserves; and
(3) A summary of outstanding debts and liabilities.
(b) Community associations shall annually send unit owners copies of the annual report
electronically or in print.
44-3-303.
(a) Community associations shall have an independent audit of association finances be
conducted at least once every two years.
(b) Community associations shall make audit results available to all unit owners within 30
days of completion of an audit.
44-3-304.
(a) Community associations shall provide unredacted copies of monthly bank statements
to any unit owner upon request.
(b) Community associations shall maintain all bank records for at least seven years.
44-3-305.
(a) Community associations shall provide members with copies of all insurance policies
covering the association and the association board of directors upon request.
(b) Community associations shall notify unit owners of any material changes to coverage
within seven days of such change.
44-3-306.
(a) Unit owners shall have a cause of action for damages and any other relief a court of
competent jurisdiction deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, compensatory and
punitive damages for violations of this article.
(b) Community associations found in violation of this article shall be fined no more
than $500.00 for each violation.
(c) A court may award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to the prevailing party."
SECTION 3.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law
without such approval and shall apply to violations by community associations on or after
such effective date.
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would require homeowners associations, condominium associations, and property owners' associations to give unit owners access to financial records, insurance policies, and other key documents on request.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia law currently gives community associations, such as homeowners' associations and condominium associations, wide discretion over what financial and governing records they share with unit owners. This bill, called the Right to Information for Homeowners Act, would add a new article to Georgia's specialized land transactions law requiring these associations to disclose so-called critical documents, including insurance policies, bank statements, budgets, audits, bylaws, meeting minutes, and contracts.
Associations would have to respond to document requests within 14 days, keep a secure online database of records, publish an annual financial report, get an independent audit at least every two years, and notify owners within seven days of major insurance changes. Unit owners who are harmed by violations could sue for damages, including punitive damages, and courts could award attorney's fees. Associations found in violation face fines of up to $500 per violation. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it, or if it becomes law without his signature, and would apply to violations occurring after that date.
### What it does
- Requires community associations to give unit owners access to critical documents, including insurance policies, bank statements, budgets, audits, bylaws, and meeting minutes.
- Sets a 14 day deadline for associations to provide requested records, electronically or as physical copies at reasonable cost.
- Requires associations to maintain a secure online database of critical documents that unit owners can access.
- Requires an annual report covering insurance, financial health, and outstanding debts, plus an independent audit at least every two years.
- Creates a civil cause of action for unit owners, allowing compensatory and punitive damages, attorney's fees, and fines of up to $500 per violation.
### Who it affects
Homeowners' associations, condominium associations, and property owners' associations across Georgia, along with the unit owners (residents) who belong to them. Association boards of directors would face new compliance duties, while owners gain new rights to request and receive financial and governing records.
### Why it matters
Homeowners often struggle to get clear financial information from their community associations. This bill would give owners a legal right to insurance details, bank statements, audits, and budgets, plus a way to sue and collect damages or fees if the association fails to comply, changing the balance of power between boards and residents.
### Key provisions
- Section 44-3-300 defines key terms, including 'critical documents,' 'community association,' and 'unit owner,' covering homeowners', condominium, and property owners' associations.
- Section 44-3-301 requires associations to give unit owners access to critical documents within 14 days of a request and to maintain a searchable online database.
- Section 44-3-302 requires an annual report on insurance, financial health, reserves, and outstanding debts, sent to all unit owners.
- Section 44-3-303 requires an independent audit at least every two years, with results shared with owners within 30 days.
- Section 44-3-304 requires unredacted monthly bank statements upon request and record retention for at least seven years.
- Section 44-3-305 requires disclosure of insurance policies covering the association and its board, with notice of material coverage changes within seven days.
- Section 44-3-306 creates a civil cause of action for damages, including punitive damages, sets fines of up to $500 per violation, and allows courts to award attorney's fees.
- Section 3 makes the law effective upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without his approval, applying to violations after that date.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-09)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-11)
- Sponsors: Viola Davis, Sandra Scott, Kim Schofield, Akbar Ali, Rhonda Taylor
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73018
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1251.md?full=1