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Conference committee approves HB 420 to clarify construction-defect claims process
Summary
A joint House-Senate conference committee on April 23 approved HB 420, which clarifies the statute of repose, notice-of-claim contents, mediation procedures and timelines for construction-defect settlements; the committee adopted a conference draft and passed the bill by recorded voice votes.
A joint House-Senate conference committee voted April 23 to approve HB 420 HC3 ST2, a bill that clarifies how construction-defect claims are filed, mediated and resolved.
The measure narrows ambiguity over the statute of repose for contract and statutory claims, spells out the required contents of a notice of claim served on a contractor, sets the time frame by which a claimant may accept or reject a contractor's settlement or repair offer, and clarifies mediation procedures for construction-defect disputes. Managers recommended passage of a conference draft (CD1) and said the bill would be made effective upon approval.
Committee managers reported agreement on the draft before the roll-call sequence. The house and senate conferees recorded aye votes from the listed members; several members were recorded as excused. The committee announced the measure as passed and recorded the result as "We have a bill."
Why it matters: proponents said the bill is intended to streamline dispute resolution between property owners and contractors and to reduce procedural uncertainty that can prolong litigation. The clarified notice and mediation rules could change the timing and approach of many construction-defect cases in state courts.
What the committee recorded: the conference managers recommended passage with amendments and proceeded to a roll call; the transcript records affirmative votes by representatives and senators present, and notes that one or more members were excused. The text reported in the conference draft will determine final procedures and effective dates.
Next steps: With conference passage recorded, the bill will proceed according to the legislature's remaining approval steps and any necessary technical or enrollment processes before becoming law.
