Several bills are expected to be filed during this year's state legislative session in an attempt to strengthen communities and address neighborhood concerns.

One proposed measure would give homeowners associations the ability to regulate ”for sale'' signs in neighborhoods while another would protect community features such as golf courses from undergoing significant changes without a vote by nearby residents. A third would standardize how homeowners associations revise their rules.

Many homeowners associations are experiencing funding shortfalls as foreclosures and economic hardships cause residents to be remiss on dues.

With the legislative session soon, those involved in crafting the bills say they will help keep communities strong.

In some cases, homeowners associations have distressed residents by seeking to change the makeup of a community.

Golf courses could be turned into town homes and a 55-and-older community could be open to all residents. One proposed bill would make it harder for those changes to be made.

Many residents purposely buy in a community for the golf course or age restriction, said Clint Goodman with the Homeowner's Institute. Residents in the Lakes at Ahwatukee expressed concerns in November about plans to replace their golf course with townhomes.

Another potential bill would ease the sometimes lengthy process for a community to change its rules. A rule change can require anywhere from half of the homeowners agreeing to the change to as much as 75.percent of homeowners giving their approval.

Frank Nechvatal, president of the Sunbird Homeowners Association in Chandler, thinks deciding on one percentage throughout the state would eliminate discrepancies.

Another proposed measure could limit the size of ”for sale'' signs in communities, said Ryan Anderson, lobbyist for Community Associations Institute.