Las Vegas NowI-Team: Homeowner's Association Bill Gets Extra Scrutiny

I-Team: Homeowner's Association Bill Gets Extra Scrutiny

A bill to reform homeowner's associations in Nevada may not make it off the governor's desk.

The legislation overwhelmingly passed in both houses. Since then the governor's office has been inundated with emails and phone calls, both for and against the measure.

Assembly Bill 396 landed on Governor Jim Gibbons' desk five days ago. He has until midnight Friday to sign it into law.

However, his staff tells the Eyewitness News I-Team that Governor Gibbons is feeling pressure to give this more than a passing glance.

Assembly Bill 396 is a cobbling together of several bills proposed to reform home owner's associations. Among the provisions, lawmakers banned the use of radar guns on private streets. They eliminated the fees collected by HOA's for real estate transactions, and they clarified existing law allowing boards to raise fees to fill maintenance reserves without homeowner approval.

Senator Mike Schneider, a long time advocate for homeowners, acknowledges the bill's not perfect but he believes its protections outweigh any problems.

"I'll tell you the biggest proponents of the bill live in areas where they represent a lot of homeowners associations. That is the biggest issue they hear from the people all the time, can somebody regulate these homeowners associations."

The bill received overwhelming bi-partisan support in both houses. Members of the assembly who passed it unanimously are already threatening an override should the governor veto the bill.

Of course, any action by the legislature would have to wait for the next session in 2009. Sounds like now is the time to speak up if you have an opinion on this one.

That's right. If folks feel strongly about this one, now's the time to contact the governor's office. Supporters believe influential special interests are already doing that.

Email your comments to Investigative Reporter Colleen McCarty.