Community association issues don’t stop at the state or local level. Decisions made in Washington can have a very real impact on association budgets, insurance costs, disaster recovery, condominium financing and the ability of communities to maintain their properties.
That was the focus of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) 2026 Congressional Advocacy Summit, held September 24 in Washington, D.C.
More than 120 CAI-member advocates from across the country—including community association homeowners, managers and business partners—met with members of Congress and their staffs to discuss issues affecting community associations. Participants held 129 congressional meetings with 79 representatives and 50 senators.
What Issues Are on the Table?
CAI identified several federal priorities for this year’s Summit, including:
Disaster Recovery
CAI is advocating for legislation intended to improve disaster assistance and recovery for community associations, including the FEMA Act of 2025 and the Protect Our Homes Act. The latter would establish an SBA disaster loan program specifically for homeowners associations to repair damaged common areas and invest in mitigation measures.
Condominium Financing
CAI is asking Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Finance Agency to delay implementation of recent condominium lender questionnaire changes by one year. The organization says the changes could have implications for condominium financing and affordability.
Condominium Safety
CAI is supporting the Making Condos Safer and Affordable Act, which would expand access to federally backed financing for certain condominium repairs, safety improvements and special assessments.
Insurance Affordability
Insurance is also part of the conversation. CAI has identified rising premiums, fewer coverage options and more complex compliance requirements as challenges facing community associations, particularly condominiums.
For associations already working through higher insurance costs, reserve requirements and aging infrastructure, these issues can overlap in significant ways. A change in one area—such as lending requirements or disaster assistance—can have practical consequences for budgeting, maintenance and long-term planning.
Why This Matters Locally
For communities here on the Eastern Shore, disaster recovery and insurance affordability aren’t abstract issues.
Coastal storms and flooding can create significant damage to common areas and shared infrastructure. At the same time, associations are balancing insurance requirements, deductibles, reserve funding, maintenance projects and the needs of individual homeowners.
That makes it worth paying attention not only to what happens after a storm or when an insurance renewal arrives, but also to the policies that influence how communities prepare, recover and finance those challenges.
Want to Stay Involved?
CAI’s advocacy work doesn’t end with the Summit. The organization provides an online advocacy tool that allows members and others who choose to participate to identify their members of Congress and communicate directly with their offices about issues affecting community associations. CAI also continues to issue calls to action as legislation and policy discussions develop.
Want to add your voice?
Community association professionals, board members and homeowners can learn more about CAI’s federal advocacy efforts and available opportunities to participate through CAI Advocacy.
We’ll continue watching these issues and sharing future developments that could affect community associations, their boards and the people who live in them.
