SF 1750: Resident Participation in HOA Meetings

We continue our series reflecting on SF 1750 and its impacts on HOA Board leaders. Today we look at how HOA board meetings are to be conducted and how boards must give homeowners more opportunities to participate in decisions affecting their communities.

Imagine your HOA board is preparing to approve a $150,000 roofing contract. The directors have reviewed the proposals, discussed the project with their property manager and are ready to vote. But several homeowners attending the meeting have questions about the contractor, warranty and project costs.

Does the board have to let those homeowners speak before voting?

Beginning January 1, 2027, Minnesota’s new HOA legislation, SF 1750, will generally require covered associations to give homeowners an opportunity to speak on agenda items before board action is taken.

This represents an important change in how Minnesota homeowner associations conduct business.

What Does SF 1750 Require?

Under SF 1750, enacted as Chapter 82, Minnesota’s Common Interest Ownership Act (MCIOA) establishes additional requirements for open board meetings.

The new provisions include:

• Homeowner speaking rights. Owners, or individuals designated by them in writing, must be permitted to speak on agenda items before the board takes action.
• Meeting agendas. Boards must make meeting agendas reasonably available to homeowners.
• Access to documents. Contracts and other documents the board intends to approve or disapprove must be made reasonably available, except for materials involving permitted closed sessions.
• Written comments. Homeowners may submit comments before meetings and request that matters be added to the agenda.
• Reasonable meeting controls. Boards may establish reasonable speaking-time limits and maintain order.

Importantly, the law does not require boards to allow unlimited discussion or permit homeowners to disrupt meetings.

How Will This Change Board Meetings?

Many associations already encourage homeowner participation. Others reserve most meeting discussions for directors and permit homeowner comments only during a designated open forum.

Under the new law, boards must provide an opportunity for homeowners to speak about agenda items before action is taken.

Consider an association preparing to adopt a new parking restriction.

Before the board votes, homeowners must have an opportunity to share their perspectives on that agenda item. Perhaps a resident believes the proposed restriction will create problems for visitors or residents with disabilities. The board must provide an appropriate opportunity to speak, but the directors retain responsibility for making the final decision.

Homeowners do not gain the right to vote on ordinary board decisions simply because they may comment.

Can Boards Limit Homeowner Comments?

Yes.

SF 1750 allows boards to establish reasonable time limits for homeowner participation. For example, an association might generally provide each speaker three minutes to address an agenda item. Homeowners are expected to make a good-faith effort to notify the board in advance when they intend to speak, to the extent their intention is known. The meeting chair may also warn individuals who disrupt proceedings and remove them if the disruption continues.

However, boards cannot impose fines simply because homeowners exercise their rights to speak or submit written comments.

What About Confidential Board Discussions?

The new law continues to permit closed meetings for certain matters, including personnel issues, qualifying legal disputes and sensitive criminal activity. Boards are not required to disclose documents associated with properly closed sessions. The intention is to promote transparency while preserving necessary confidentiality.

Five Steps HOA Boards Should Take Now

With January 1 approaching, Minnesota HOA boards should prepare by:

1. Reviewing meeting procedures to ensure homeowners can speak before votes on agenda items.
2. Updating meeting agendas to identify when homeowner comments will be heard.
3. Making documents available through email, association websites or other reasonable methods.
4. Establishing reasonable speaking limits to maintain productive meetings.
5. Educating directors and property managers about the new participation requirements.

Boards should also review their governing documents and consult legal counsel about how the provisions apply to their association.

A Step Toward More HOA Governance

Volunteer HOA directors must make difficult decisions about assessments, maintenance, insurance, rules and community priorities.

Those responsibilities aren’t always easy, particularly when homeowners disagree.

But allowing residents to express their concerns before decisions are made can improve communication, reduce misunderstandings and strengthen trust.

SF 1750 reinforces an important principle: Homeowners deserve an opportunity to be heard, even when they don’t have the final vote.

For Minnesota HOA leaders, this is an opportunity to make board meetings more transparent, respectful and productive.

Learn more: Visit the HOA Leadership Network SF 1750 Education Center for additional educational resources about Minnesota’s new HOA legislation.