In a follow up to a recent article, House Bill 4049 has now passed both the SC House and the Senate and was signed into law on Friday, May 19, 2023, by the governor.
In short, the new law will open the door for most homeowners associations and condominiums in South Carolina to allow remote member participation and to conduct virtual membership meetings. This bill will also allow those with health concerns to more easily participate in their association’s meetings.
The decision whether to do so, and what conditions may apply for doing so, would be within the discretion of the board of directors and subject to any guidelines or procedures the board adopts.
With its passage, homeowners associations and condominiums will be able to add remote participation to the range of options for meeting and otherwise doing business. Many communities in other states have reported increased member participation and engagement with the enactment of similar laws. To compare the particulars of NC’s version, read this article by Jim Slaughter in our office. With today’s increased options for telecommunications, this change makes sense and will allow community associations to align their practices with what many of their members already assume and expect anyway.
If your community has questions about the new changes and whether and how they can be implemented in your community, contact one of our South Carolina community association attorneys in any of our offices.