The unanimous decision in Colt's Neck Homeowners Assn. v. Franklin Cty. Bd. of Commrs., Case No. 2025-0693, arose from a proposed $3.2 million improvement to Cole Ditch intended to relieve stormwater flooding. In April 2023, a landowner and the Jefferson Township Board of Trustees petitioned the Franklin County commissioners to improve the ditch's drainage; because the project affected land in more than one county, a joint board of Franklin and Licking County commissioners voted to move it forward.

The Colt's Neck association, whose Licking County community sits in the affected watershed, appealed to the common pleas courts in both counties, alleging procedural deficiencies. The two appellate districts split on whether those appeals could proceed — the Fifth District dismissed the Licking County case, while the Tenth District allowed the Franklin County case to continue.

What the court held

Resolving the split, the Supreme Court explained that under R.C. Chapter 6133, which governs joint county ditches, any affected landowner may appeal to the court of common pleas any order issued by a joint board of county commissioners — including the initial order finding a project necessary. Associations that own or represent affected land do not have to wait for a final assessment before going to court.

Why it matters for associations

Special-assessment drainage projects can place meaningful costs on community associations and their members. This decision confirms that Ohio associations have standing to raise procedural objections early, when a challenge can still shape — or stop — a project, rather than only after costs are fixed.

Sources: Court News Ohio; opinion via Justia.

What changed on July 1

Before an association can collect attorney's fees from a homeowner, it must now send written notice by certified mail that identifies any outstanding fines or delinquent fees, give the homeowner 30 days to pay, and provide an itemized list of the attorney's fees claimed. In bench trials, judges must review attorney's-fee claims for reasonableness and enter a formal order before any such fees can be awarded.

Other key provisions

The act also prohibits associations from refusing any payment from an owner and from collecting accelerated assessments — that is, demanding future dues early. And in a significant structural change, every HOA in Georgia will be required to register with the Secretary of State's office and submit its governing documents along with a financial statement; the registration requirements take effect in January 2027 to give the Secretary of State's office time to stand up the program.

What boards should do now

Georgia boards and managers should update collection policies and counsel engagement letters immediately — the certified-mail notice, 30-day cure window, and fee itemization are prerequisites to recovering attorney's fees today, not next year. Registration preparations can follow on a longer runway, but associations should begin assembling governing documents and financial statements ahead of the January 2027 requirement.

Sources: News4Jax; WTOC.

What the law does

The act's provisions add transparency requirements for board meetings and association documents, prohibit conflicts of interest for board members and property managers, ban retaliation against unit owners, add requirements for maintenance contracts, and limit the fines that can be imposed on unit owners. It also creates a new process for terminating an association and restricts a local government's ability to require an HOA as a condition of approving new housing developments.

Effective dates

The law phases in: its definitions took effect May 13, 2026, the day after signature, while most operative provisions take effect January 1, 2027 — including the limit on local governments requiring private common-area property in residential developments that necessitate an association.

What boards should do now

Minnesota associations have a defined runway. Boards should review meeting and records practices against the new transparency requirements, examine manager and vendor relationships for the conflict-of-interest prohibitions, and revisit fine schedules and enforcement policies before the January 1, 2027 effective date.

Sources: Minnesota House Public Information Services; League of Minnesota Cities.

Background

Senate Bill 410 builds on SB 326 (2019), which requires associations with three or more attached multifamily units to have their exterior elevated elements inspected on a recurring cycle under Civil Code § 5551. SB 410 closes the information gap at resale: the most recent § 5551 report now belongs inside the HOA disclosure package that Civil Code § 4525 requires sellers to deliver.

What associations must do

Associations covered by § 5551 should be prepared to produce the current inspection report promptly when an owner requests resale documents, and the reports are treated as association records that must be retained for two inspection cycles. Boards and managers should confirm their document-request workflows and records retention policies reflect the new requirement.

Why it matters

Buyers in covered communities now see the structural condition of shared elevated elements — and any looming repair obligations — before closing. For boards, an out-of-date or missing inspection report is no longer just a compliance gap; it can hold up owners' sales.

Sources: SKS Construction's SB 410 explainer; 805 Title on 2026 disclosure changes.