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Committee hears bill to codify 3‑day cancellation for door‑to‑door solar sales
Summary
HB 760 would codify a three‑business‑day cooling‑off period for door‑to‑door solar sales and require disclosure; proponents said it protects vulnerable consumers and preserves industry reputation, while DOJ and committee members noted federal rules and state UDAP statutes already apply.
Representative George Nikolicakos introduced House Bill 760 as a consumer‑protection measure aimed at “bad actors” in door‑to‑door solar sales. The bill would explicitly grant customers a three‑business‑day cancellation window to review and, if desired, rescind solar contracts signed off premises.
Industry representatives, including Makena Sellers of the Montana Renewable Energy Association and Matt Goudreaux of Solar Montana, supported the bill as a way to protect consumers and maintain confidence in a growing state solar market. "We want to keep bad actors out of Montana," Sellers said, describing the proposal as a state‑level codification of a federal cooling‑off rule.
Andrew Butler, supervising attorney for consumer protection at the Montana Department of Justice, told the committee the activities targeted by the bill are already enforceable under state unfair and deceptive practices statutes (30‑14‑103 and 30‑14‑104) and that the federal cooling‑off rule (16 CFR §429) applies to door‑to‑door transactions. Butler said the bill’s main effect would be to single out solar sales in state law and make the cooling‑off period clear in statute.
Committee members pressed on whether the bill adds protections beyond existing federal rules. Butler and proponents said the statutory mention provides clarity and a state‑level enforcement signal; Republicans and Democrats on the committee generally signaled support for a short, consumer‑facing disclosure. The committee concluded the hearing with no immediate executive action.
