Senate committee lays over bill requiring contractors to include 10-year warranties for major residential systems

The Senate Government Organization Committee considered Senate Bill 569, which would require residential construction contracts to include specified warranty and disclosure language and make failure to comply subject to disciplinary action by the Contractor Licensing Board. The committee voted to lay the bill over to a future meeting.

The bill would create a new article in Chapter 21 of the state code and amend a section in Chapter 30 to require that a contract for residential improvements include contractor representations that work complies with applicable building practices and codes; that required inspections have been performed; that materials and appliances are new and without defect; and that work meets applicable zoning and health-department regulations. The bill specifies warranty lengths: 10 years for major systems (for example, roof, basement and…