Many condominiums have hosted virtual unit owner meetings since the start of the pandemic and have found them to be a positive mechanism for unit owner participation. The authority for these meetings has now been codified.

On June 30, 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law Senate Bill S7278B (introduced by State Sen. Liz Krueger) that amends Section 339-v of New York’s Condominium Act to authorize a condominium’s board of managers to conduct unit owner meetings electronically by designating a means of electronic communication as the place of the meeting. Boards may now determine whether to hold in-person meetings, virtual meetings, or hybrid meetings, that is, meetings where unit owners may attend in person or electronically. 

The statute does not specify procedures for such meetings. For guidance, we look to the Business Corporation Law, which governs most corporations in New York, including most cooperative apartment corporations and to which courts may look for guidance. The Business Corporation Law authorizes Boards of Directors to implement reasonable measures to provide shareholders not physically present at a shareholders' meeting a reasonable opportunity to participate in the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings.  While not certain, we assume that the same would apply to condominium unit owner meetings under the new amendment.

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact your regular AT lawyer or one of the authors listed below.