Missouri bill would cut down on HOA solar restrictions

The Missouri legislature passed a bill that would cut down on HOA solar restrictions, exempt some solar installations from sales taxes and more.

Renew Missouri applauded the passage of SB 745 as a significant win for solar in the Show-Me State and urged Gov. Mike Parson to sign the legislation as soon as possible.

According to the organization, SB 745 didn’t start out as a pro-renewable bill. But, over the course of the 2022 legislative session, lawmakers added language that include:

• A prohibition on homeowner associations (HOAs) from banning solar in their covenants and restrictions;
• a sales and use tax exemption on solar equipment; and
• the creation of a task force that will commission a Value of Solar (VOS) study.

Executive director James Owen noted the importance of protecting homeowners in HOAs from onerous restrictions.

“At Renew Missouri, we receive more phone calls from homeowners who simply want to put un-invasive solar panels on their roofs and facing vague and ill-informed resistance,” Owen noted. “We’ve deployed a lot of resources to work with HOAs and, failing that, filing lawsuits.”

Now, Renew Missouri will be able to help HOAs craft the “reasonable restrictions” required of the proposed changes to the statute.

“We are eternally grateful to Senator Eric Burlison and Representative Mike Haffner’s leadership on solar access and property rights,” Owen said. “They have exemplified how renewable energy has become a bipartisan issue.”

News item from Renew Missouri

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Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2022/05/missouri-bill-would-cut-down-hoa-solar-restrictions/