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HB 158: NEW Solar Panels and Homeowners Associations – 2019

Summary: This bill would prohibit homeowners associations (HOA) from restricting the installation of solar panels on rooftops

ICL's position: Support

Current Bill Status: Law

Issue Areas: Clean Energy

Official Legislative Site

House Bill 158, sponsored by Reps. Ilana Rubel (D-Boise) and Randy Armstrong (R-Inkom) would prohibit homeowners associations (HOAs) from restricting the installation of solar panels on rooftops.

Some HOAs have restrictions on solar panels based on concerns that they are eyesores or because they may reflect sunlight into a neighbor’s home. Thanks to new technology, modern solar panels are hardly visible from the street and are an important part of Idaho’s clean energy future.

HB 158 made some minor changes to the previous bill (HB 82), without impacting the intent of the bill.