AH-404 Common Ownership – Remote Access to Meetings

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CITIZEN-DRAFTED BILL AH-404 
 
Requested: August 24, 2024 
Suggested assignment to: Environment and Transportation 
AN ACT concerning 
Common Ownership – Remote Access to Meetings 
FOR the purpose of increasing transparency of governing bodies, ensuring in-person meetings for seniors and 
others without internet access, requiring remote access for out-of-town owners to attend meetings, and 
enabling access for remote owners from their out-of-state primary residence.  Repeal of 11-139.3 should be 
considered along with this bill.   
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. 
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. 
Underlining indicates amendments to bill. 
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by amendment. 
 
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as 
follows: 
 
 
Article – Real Property 
 
 
11-109.6 REMOTE ACCESS TO CONDOMINIUM MEETINGS 
(a) AN OPEN MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OR OTHER GOVERNING BODY OR COMMITTEE WITH 
AUTHORITY TO HEAR OR ADOPT RULES, POLICIES, AND GUIDELINES, SHALL BE CONDUCTED AS A HYBRID 
MEETING WITH BOTH IN-PERSON AND REMOTE OPTIONS FOR ATTENDANCE BY UNIT OWNERS AND 
RENTERS WHO ARE NOT ON THE GOVERNING BODY.   
 
(b) REMOTE ACCESS THROUGH A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TELECONFERENCING SYSTEM OR VIRTUAL SPACE 
SHALL CONSTITUTE COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION, PROVIDED THAT THE QUALIFYING METHOD IS:  
(1) REASONABLY CAPABLE OF CONVEYING ANY USER’S INTENT TO SPEAK; AND 
(2) PREVIOUSLY TESTED AND PROVEN TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE A REASONABLE NUMBER OF 
SIMULTANEOUS SPEAKERS WITH MUTE AND UNMUTE FUNCTIONS FOR THE RESIDENT COMMENT 
PERIOD 
 
 

 
11A-109.2 REMOTE ACCESS TO TIME-SHARE MEETINGS 
( a ) AN OPEN MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OR OTHER GOVERNING BODY OR COMMITTEE 
WITH AUTHORITY TO HEAR OR ADOPT RULES, POLICIES, AND GUIDELINES, SHALL BE CONDUCTED AS A 
HYBRID MEETING WITH BOTH IN-PERSON AND REMOTE OPTIONS FOR ATTENDANCE BY TIME-SHARES 
WHO ARE NOT ON THE GOVERNING BODY.   
 
( b ) REMOTE ACCESS THROUGH A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TELECONFERENCING SYSTEM OR VIRTUAL 
SPACE SHALL CONSTITUTE COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION, PROVIDED THAT THE QUALIFYING 
METHOD IS:  
( 1 ) REASONABLY CAPABLE OF CONVEYING ANY USER’S INTENT TO SPEAK; AND 
( 2 ) PREVIOUSLY TESTED AND PROVEN TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE A REASONABLE NUMBER OF 
SIMULTANEOUS SPEAKERS WITH MUTE AND UNMUTE FUNCTIONS FOR THE DESIGNATED 
COMMENT PERIOD 
 
 
11B-111.12 REMOTE ACCESS TO HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION MEETINGS 
( a ) AN OPEN MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OR OTHER GOVERNING BODY OR COMMITTEE 
WITH AUTHORITY TO HEAR OR ADOPT RULES, POLICIES, AND GUIDELINES, SHALL BE CONDUCTED AS A 
HYBRID MEETING WITH BOTH IN-PERSON AND REMOTE OPTIONS FOR ATTENDANCE BY LOT OWNERS 
AND RENTERS WHO ARE NOT ON THE GOVERNING BODY.   
 
( b ) REMOTE ACCESS THROUGH A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TELECONFERENCING SYSTEM OR VIRTUAL 
SPACE SHALL CONSTITUTE COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION, PROVIDED THAT THE QUALIFYING 
METHOD IS:  
( 1 ) REASONABLY CAPABLE OF CONVEYING ANY USER’S INTENT TO SPEAK; AND 
( 2 ) PREVIOUSLY TESTED AND PROVEN TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE A REASONABLE NUMBER OF 
SIMULTANEOUS SPEAKERS WITH MUTE AND UNMUTE FUNCTIONS FOR THE RESIDENT COMMENT 
PERIOD 
 
 
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect October 1, 2025.