SB 313

Abstract

Board for Contractors; required regulations and disclosures. Board for Contractors; required regulations and disclosures. Requires the Board for Contractors to adopt regulations requiring all Class A, B, and C residential contractors, excluding subcontractors to the contracting parties and those who engage in routine maintenance or service contracts, to use legible written contracts that include certain terms and conditions. The bill directs the Board to require a statement of protections be provided by the contractor to the homeowner, consumer, or buyer in transactions involving door-to-door solicitations or any residential rooftop solar installation. The bill requires the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation to review by July 1, 2025, its licensing exam for alternative energy system contracting to ensure such exam includes questions related to the physical installation of alternative energy systems on preexisting structures. The bill also requires the Board for Contractors to create a disclosure form to be provided in any transaction involving a residential rooftop solar installation to include specific disclosures regarding the risks associated with residential rooftop solar installation. Finally, the bill requires the State Corporation Commission to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to develop recommendations for any additional consumer protections regarding the sale, lease, or installation of a solar energy facility with a generating capacity of 25 kilowatts or less and report the work group's recommendations to certain committees of the General Assembly by November 30, 2024. The bill is identical to HB 576 and has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025.

Commissioner of Agricultural and Consumer Services; regulations regarding mandatory solar disclosures for solar energy facilities; report. Requires the Commissioner of Agricultural and Consumer Services to promulgate regulations for mandatory disclosures, outlined in the bill, to be included in any marketing materials that promote the sale, lease, or installation of any solar energy facility and to be included in any contract between a seller and consumer involving the sale, lease, or installation of any solar energy facility. The bill requires the Commissioner to develop a standardized form for any required disclosures and publish such form by January 1, 2025, on the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services' website. Additionally, the Commissioner shall convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to develop recommendations for any additional consumer protections regarding the sale, lease, or installation of a solar energy facility with a generating capacity of 25 kilowatts or less. The Commissioner is required to submit a written report of the work group's recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committees on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and Labor and Commerce and the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and Commerce and Labor by November 30, 2024.  

Commissioner of Agricultural and Consumer Services; regulations regarding mandatory solar disclosures for solar energyfacilities; report. Requires the Commissioner of Agricultural and Consumer Services to promulgate regulations for mandatory disclosures,outlined in the bill, to be included in any marketing materials thatpromote the sale, lease, or installation of any solar energy facilityand to be included in any contract between a seller and consumer involving the sale, lease, or installation of any solar energy facility. Thebill requires the Commissioner to develop a standardized form forany required disclosures. Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner to convene a work group to develop recommendations for any additionalconsumer protections regarding the sale, lease, or installation ofa solar energy facility that generates 25 kWh or less. The Commissioneris required to submit a written report of the work group's recommendationsto the Chairs of the House Committees on Agriculture, Chesapeakeand Natural Resources and Commerce and Energy and the Senate Committeeson Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and Commerce andLabor by November 30, 2024.