Community Associations Institute (CAI) needs your help! LB 360- Provide restrictions on the regulation of political signs by homeowners associations and LB 137- Prohibit certain restrictions on solar energy devices and pollinator gardens and provide a cause of action are both being heard in the Nebraska Judiciary Committee on Thursday, February 27th. Both LB 360 and LB 137 need to be amended to better balance community association governing authority with the rights of individual homeowners in Nebraska.  

Act Now! Ask the Judiciary Committee to AMEND both bills! 

CAI has taken the following positions and is asking for your support to urge Nebraska’s Judiciary Committee to also adopt these positions: 

LB 137 Solar Regulations in Community Associations: LB 137 would greatly limit an association’s ability to implement reasonable rules and regulations surrounding the installation of solar panels and pollinator gardens by homeowners. The bill does not clearly protect the right for associations to impose reasonable rules and regulations on solar panels and does not allow associations to control installation in common areas nor allow associations to charge the same application fees as other architectural requests.  

CAI’s Position on LB 137: CAI has submitted recommended amendments to the committee, which would clarify that an association can exercise authority over common elements and would allow associations to keep existing rules on solar panels. The amendment also ensures fairness in fees, stating that an association may not charge fees beyond normal application fees. 

LB 360 Political Sign Regulations in Community Associations: LB 360 does not allow associations the autonomy they need to impose reasonable rules and regulations surrounding political signs. The bill instead lists what is and is not considered reasonable under this legislation and does not allow associations to create their own rules for situations not outlined in the bill. Every community is unique, and what may be appropriate for one community is not necessarily appropriate for another. Additionally, the bill does not explicitly give the association authority to regulate political signs in common areas.  

CAI’s Position on LB 360: CAI submitted recommended amendment language for the Committee’s consideration to address these oversights.  

Please, urge the Judiciary Committee to AMEND both LB 137 and LB 360 with CAI’s amendments! 

If you are interested in getting involved with CAI’s advocacy efforts, please visit our webpage here: Take Action | Community Associations Institute 

For more information on CAI’s Nebraska State Laws and Resources, visit our webpage here: Nebraska Legislative Resources | Community Associations Institute  

Please contact CAI’s Government and Public Affairs department at government@caionline.org with any questions.