Georgia CommonsHB 1251: Right to Information for Homeowners Act; enact
Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action February 11, 2026 · Introduced
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
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.