The local law supersedes the rules and regulations of the HOA, meaning that HOAs must ensure they are operating under the law.
An HOA's governing documents are usually in the form of a Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) and bylaws. The CC&Rs explain the rules of the HOA community, while the bylaws cover how the HOA operates.
In a word, yes. There are certain decisions the board can make unilaterally. On the flip side, there are also some decisions that must go through a membership vote. The limitations of an HOA board's authority differ from one community to another.
Exploring the Public Record Status of HOA Bylaws In some states, such as California, HOA bylaws are considered public record and must be made available upon request.