CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — Serving on an HOA or condominium board in Charles County will soon come with a new requirement. Beginning Oct. 1, board members and officers of many homeowners and condominium associations must complete training on their legal and fiduciary responsibilities under a new Maryland law designed to improve community governance and reduce neighborhood disputes.
Gov. Wes Moore signed Senate Bill 573 into law on May 26, 2026. The measure takes effect Oct. 1 and requires certain leaders of common ownership communities to complete approved training within 90 days of taking office.
The legislation applies to members of condominium boards of directors, officers of councils of unit owners and members of homeowners association governing bodies in Charles County.
Under the law, training must be developed by a common ownership commission recognized by the state or a local government, or by an organization approved by a recognized commission. Certificates of completion remain valid for three years and must be renewed upon expiration.
“The bill was sponsored by Charles County Senators Sen. Arthur Ellis and Sen. Kevin M. Harris following a recommendation from the Charles County commissioners.”
During a Feb. 18 hearing before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, Ellis said many residents who volunteer to serve on HOA and condominium boards have little experience with the laws and regulations governing common ownership communities.
“Members who have other jobs outside of real estate, outside of the law, serving on these boards, they really do not know a lot of the applicable laws and practices of the HOA and condo associations,” Ellis told lawmakers.
Ellis said conflicts often arise when developers transfer control of a community to homeowners. During the development phase, builders frequently subsidize services such as landscaping, street lighting, snow removal and trash collection, helping keep HOA and condominium fees low.
When homeowners assume control, association boards must cover the full cost of those services, often resulting in fee increases that can create tension among residents.
“So when the builders pull out, the owners have this increase in HOA condo fees and a lot of resistance developed,” Ellis said during the hearing.
He said training could help board members better understand their responsibilities while helping residents better understand the financial realities of maintaining a community.
“If individuals are trained about this, they will know what to expect,” Ellis said. “Education is key to a peaceful community.”
The law requires governing bodies to certify that members have completed the required training, maintain copies of completion certificates and report compliance to the applicable common ownership commission.
Individuals who fail to complete the training may be removed from office or have their votes on board matters invalidated.
According to a fiscal analysis prepared by the Department of Legislative Services, Charles County is not required to create its own training program. However, if county officials choose to develop or administer training through an authorized provider, startup costs could total approximately $50,000 in fiscal year 2027, with annual maintenance costs estimated at $30,000 thereafter.
The legislation received unanimous support from the Charles County commissioners through the county’s legislative proposal process before being introduced in Annapolis.
“This bill was voted unanimously by the county commissioners for us to present to the General Assembly,” Ellis told the committee.
Senate Bill 573 received its first reading in the Maryland Senate on Feb. 4, 2026, was heard by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Feb. 18, passed both chambers of the General Assembly during the 2026 legislative session and was signed into law by Moore on May 26.
The legislation follows several unsuccessful attempts to create a statewide training requirement for HOA and condominium board members. Similar bills introduced during the 2024 and 2025 legislative sessions did not pass. Under SB 573, Charles County joins Montgomery County in requiring training for certain HOA and condominium board members.
The training requirements take effect Oct. 1, 2026.
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