The 87th Legislative Session is nearly upon us. Normally, everyone would be preparing for the frantic hustle and bustle a legislative session brings to the capitol in Austin, but this session will likely see many debates taking place virtually. While this session may look completely different than any other in Texas history, the Texas Community Association Advocates (TCAA) will still be hard at work for the benefit of property owners associations (POA) across Texas.
What is TCAA?
TCAA is an organization representing community associations throughout Texas and the professionals that serve them through public policy advocacy and serving as the voice of the Community Associations Institute on legislative and regulatory matters. The stakeholders within TCAA, which include board members, managers, attorneys, developers, builders, title companies, management companies, real estate professionals, realtors, homeowners and more, cover the spectrum of those serving POAs. Ultimately, TCAA’s goal is to “promote meaningful legislation to create an environment that supports the development of well-governed, well-managed community associations.”
Why Support TCAA
In addition to their mission, TCAA is a great resource to follow for updates on the legislative session. If you are a long-time member of the POA community, you have most likely subscribed to, or been forwarded the TCAA Minute. The TCAA Minute provides a weekly, easy to read update, during the active legislative session on the most important bills POAs should be following and what the bill would do, if passed.
Now, you may be thinking, if all TCAA is doing is providing weekly updates, why should I support them? The answer is because TCAA is doing so much more.
TCAA serves as the watchdog of legislation for POAs in Texas. TCAA actively follows the bills proposed by legislators that may have an effect on POAs and provides a boots on the ground approach to ensure lawmakers are aware of how POAs can benefit or be harmed by the proposed bills.
Even between legislative sessions, TCAA is advocating to lawmakers for the rights and needs of POAs throughout Texas. TCAA members assist in drafting language for bills, staying active throughout the legislative process to amend bills and tackle many other behind-the-scenes issues and activities to benefit POAs.
Bills TCAA Was Involved With
Over the years, TCAA has been crucial in evaluating and managing poorly written bills and their effect on POAs. TCAA works closely with lawmakers to add or change language in bills in an effort to establish clear and equitable guidelines for POAs. In the last legislative session, TCAA was instrumental in revising the language of HB 234, “the Lemonade Bill”, to include limited liability language for POAs and require owner permission. TCAA has also worked closely with Rep. Harless and Sen. Whitmore to refine the cohabitation limitation language in HB 1025 addressing board eligibility for single-family and townhome associations.
The above-mentioned bills are just two examples of legislation TCAA has impacted from its hard work on behalf of POAs.
Conclusion
Over the years, several of the POA attorneys at RMWBH have been active supporters and board and committee members of TCAA. That continues with this legislative session as I will be taking an active part as the newest TCAA board member. Throughout the upcoming legislative session, I will be assisting TCAA in a variety of areas and providing detailed legislation updates to our subscribers.
To learn more about TCAA, and to volunteer and/or donate, please visit www.txcommunityassociationadvocates.org.
