Wednesday, January 9, 2013

So the session starts today with mostly ceremony as the House elects its Speaker and House and Senate members are sworn in. Since there is no leadership contest in either chamber, committee assignments could quickly follow. Then the work of the session will begin. But even though the gavel has yet to fall, the legislature’s website has been listing bills for introduction. Among those, as of this morning, are two of interest if perhaps only to members engaged in a property law practice.

The first, H.3, proposes to repeal the requirement that an applicant for a potable water supply or wastewater permit notify affected property owners when an isolation distance surrounding the applicant’s proposed water supply or wastewater system extends onto property other than the property on which the proposed system will be located.

 

H. 7 proposes to give unit owners of common interest communities the ability to demand arbitration to challenge provisions, application, or enforcement of bylaws or rules of a governing association.

 

I don’t know the motivation for either bill but am confident that H. 7 introduced by House Judiciary Chair Bill Lippert will certainly get a hearing.

 

After the constitutional officers are sworn in tomorrow and the Governor gives his inaugural remarks the committees will get down to work. I’ll continue to update you as things unfold. As always, thanks for reading.