House overhauls construction-defect rules, creates voluntary multifamily incentive program to spur condo building

The House on March 28 passed House Bill 12 72 after a series of technical and policy amendments designed to encourage construction of attached multi-unit housing while preserving homeowners’ ability to seek repairs and damages.

Nut graf: The Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee and floor sponsors rewrote portions of the bill during stakeholder negotiations, removing a rigid dollar cap on projects and replacing it with a voluntary multifamily construction incentive program. That program invites home builders to opt in by offering third‑party inspections and express warranty packages in exchange for limited procedural protections and a streamlined settlement process.

What the bill changes - Replaced an initial market-cap approach with a voluntary multifamily construction incentive program aimed at duplexes, triplexes, quads and condominium buildings to encourage…