Millions of California residents could get a break if they violate their homeowner's association rules due to a new law that caps fines at $100.

With the exception of rules that affect public health or safety, however, HOA boards worry the new restrictions will limit their authority to enforce rules.

The cap on HOA fines was quietly inserted into an unrelated housing bill, Assembly Bill 130, that exempts most new housing from environmental review and was led by Democratic Assembly member Buffy Wicks of Oakland.

The language of a separate bill by Democratic Senator Aisha will have a three month Senate bill 681 that would have capped HOA fees, was included in the housing bill just days before the governor signed it into law.

Excessive fees have quietly drained family finances for too long by capping fines, except for health and safety.

We set fair standards, protecting generational wealth, and finally put homeowners and HOA boards on equal footing, Senator Wahab said in a statement.

More than 50,000 HOA is covering the state's homeowners, according to the California Association of Homeowners Associations.

California residents paid a median of $278 in monthly fees, among the steepest in the nation, according to data from the Census Bureau.

Each of these have faced the frustration of many Californians for decades.

And lawmakers have proposed legislation seeking more transparency on governing boards.

Some homeowners also see the new restrictions as a necessary check on boards that misuse their power over superfluous violations, such as painting their home a bold color.

Many board members are fearful of the consequences of their diminished power, and worry how it will affect their ability to enforce neighborhood rules, said David Zappone, CEO of the Executive Council of Homeowners and a lobbyist for HOA boards.

For Calmatters, I'm Mia Henry, with reporting by Nadia Lathan.