Economic Matters Committee advances a package of consumer, licensing and housing bills

The Economic Matters Committee voted on a slate of House bills during a voting session that covered consumer protections, professional licensing changes and housing-related consumer rules.

Committee members first considered House Bill 12, a departmental bill that would strengthen enforcement against certain THC-containing products by authorizing the Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis Commission (ATCC) to seize, destroy or confiscate products that violate statutory or regulatory requirements and by permitting ATCC field enforcement to issue citations for specified THC violations. The committee moved the bill favorable after brief remarks and a roll call.

The committee also moved favorably a range of largely noncontroversial or technical bills, including House Bill 427 (allowing the State Board of Public Accountancy to place eligible licensees on emeritus status), House Bill 431 (prohibiting certain consumer contracts from shortening statutory timeframes for legal actions and removing criminal penalties in section 13‑411), and several bills related to self‑storage facility regulation and notice requirements (House Bills 968 and 979). The committee approved changes to continuing education requirements for real estate brokers and salespersons under House Bill 972 and advanced House Bill 1018, which would create a right to assume a mortgage in divorce proceedings. House Bill 1020, which would limit consumer reporting…