New Law

In contrast to last year, the 2023 legislative session was extremely active, with the General Assembly passing a number of significant bills that affect Common Interest Communities. The legislation addressed in this newsletter will take effect on July 1, 2023, unless otherwise noted below. 

Recently, the DC Council adopted amendments to the DC Condominium Act to revise the construction defect warranty provisions, along with the process for filing claims against the warranty bond required to be posted with the District of Columbia’s government to secure a condominium declarant’s warranty obligations.  Attorneys from Rees Broome were instrumental in the drafting and negotiating of the final version of the related Bill.  The Bill has been

By Susan Richards Salen, Esquire

ETS for Large Employers Requiring Vaccination and Testing Issued

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued its Emergency Temporary Standard on COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing applicable to large employers (those that employ 100 or more employees). Access OSHA information on and full regulation here: COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing ETS | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)

Key points of the regulation are as follows:

One year after being thrust into a crash course on electronic meeting platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual meetings and electronic voting options are here to stay for associations in Virginia.

Last week, the Virginia General Assembly passed a Bill that provides an association’s Board of Directors with extensive authority to prohibit smoking within condominiums and property owners’ associations.  A Board of Directors of a condominium association may, by a majority vote of the Board, prohibit smoking both in the common elements and in units, unless the recorded condominium instruments contain existing language that would prohibit the Board from doing so.  A Board of Directors for a property owners’ association may prohibit smoking in common areas by a

In addition to the many provisions under the CARES Act of 2020 providing relief to businesses, both large and small, Congress sought to assist individuals who may be feeling the economic effects of COVID-19, including those who have lost their jobs as a result.  Such relief comes at a price tag of approximately $600 billion of the $2 trillion total relief package.  This article summarizes some of the major provisions designed to aid individuals.