At the end of 2025, CAI’s Government & Public Affairs Committee and staff announced the community association industry’s 2026 state legislative and policy trends based on survey results from hundreds of CAI advocates. Results of this annual survey demonstrate the value of CAI’s members and key stakeholder insights to accurately forecast legislative trends across the country.
Forty-six states will convene legislative sessions in 2026. The majority of these states will address variations of policy issues related to community associations. The issues and priorities identified by CAI advocates confirm the collective insight the community association industry provides as a reliable early indicator of policy direction.
As state lawmakers begin to act in 2026, the alignment between CAI’s survey responses and proposed legislation underscores both the credibility of the survey and the importance of CAI member engagement in anticipating and preparing CAI’s legislative action committees for the landscape ahead in state capitols.
The following states are already addressing the following anticipated trends in 2026:
Community Governance
Board authority and transparency. Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, South Carolina, Vermont, and Washington are addressing this issue in legislation.
Board member education. Illinois is addressing this issue. CAI understands the importance of making board member education accessible to all. In recent years, state legislatures discussed mandated forms of board member education including education on the housing model, fair housing, etc.
Dispute resolution procedures. Florida, Hawaii, South Carolina, and Utah are addressing this issue in legislation. ADR is required in many states. Even in jurisdictions where ADR is not required by law, CAI strongly recommends the adoption of policies to offer ADR to address disputes between individual unit owners and between owners and the association.
Manager and management company disclosures. District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, and New York are addressing this issue in legislation. Recent state-level public policy trends and stakeholder conversations are increasingly holding community association managers and management companies to higher standards of transparency, accountability, and disclosure. These initiatives and ongoing conversations reflect a broader policy shift toward demanding that community associations managers and management companies operate with explicit registration, disclosures (financial, contractual, conflict‐of‐interest), and publicly accessible documentation to protect homeowners and enhance governance.
Collections of Assessments and Covenant Enforcement
Collection of delinquent assessments. Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, and Oklahoma are addressing this issue in legislation. CAI encourages the creation and continuation of effective methods to ensure efficient, economic, and successful association collection procedures. CAI opposes the enactment of over-reaching governmental limitations on collection of assessments, fees, and other charges. CAI supports laws that strengthen collection methods in a fair and reasonable manner, give the affected owners notice, the opportunity to be heard, and other due process protections.
Foreclosures and fining authority. Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, South Carolina, and Washington are addressing this issue in legislation. The authority of community associations to foreclose has been under examination by state legislatures and media outlets. CAI emphasizes the need for fair and equitable foreclosure procedures that protect homeowners, property values, and the financial health of community associations in a timely and reasonable manner.
Condominium Safety and Financing
Building inspections, maintenance, condominium repair, and maintenance financing. Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York are addressing this issue in legislation. CAI supports laws that provide for ongoing inspections of building structures and façades that could have a negative impact on safety and stability and endanger the occupants of a common interest residential or a mixed-use building.
Reserve studies and funding. Florida and Massachusetts are addressing this issue in legislation. CAI recommends statutorily mandating reserve studies and funding for all community associations. We also recommend additional requirements by developers during the development process and prior to transition to homeowners.
Insurance
Insurance and risk management. District of Columbia, Florida, Oklahoma, and Washington are addressing this issue in legislation. CAI supports policies that help improve access to affordable insurance for community associations. Increasing insurance premiums can make it unaffordable for community associations to obtain and maintain coverage that meets best practices, their governing documents, and the law.
Affordable Housing
Affordable housing. Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Virginia are addressing this issue in legislation. As a shortage of affordable housing located near employment and transportation continues, CAI supports efforts to increase access to affordable and stable housing for all people, including those who choose to rent or own homes in community associations.
Self-Governance of Community Associations
Community values (i.e., accessory dwelling units, solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations, landscaping, etc.). Arizona, California, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin are addressing this issue in legislation. CAI supports the rights of community associations to self-govern and reasonably regulate factors related to community values. CAI supports legislation that recognizes the core principle of self-governance, co-ownership of common property, and the community association housing model. CAI encourages policymakers to engage industry stakeholders including community association homeowners, board members, volunteer leaders, developers, community managers, and business partners, on this issue.
Learn more about CAI’s 2026 policy trends here.
This is just the beginning and there is more to come in state legislatures in 2026. Follow what’s happening in your state by visiting CAI’s real-time legislative tracking map at www.caionline.org/advocacy and subscribe to the CAI Advocacy Blog.
Please contact CAI’s Government and Public Affairs team at government@caionline.org with any questions.
