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House committee adopts amendments and advances solar-licensing and renewable-siting bills
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Summary
The House Climate, Energy and Environment Committee adopted amendments to HB 4,029 (solar contractor licensing) and HB 4,031 (renewable facility siting exemptions) and moved both bills to the floor with "do pass" recommendations; the committee also advanced HJM 201 urging federal wildfire tax relief.
The House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment on Feb. 10 adopted amendments to two work-session bills and sent them to the House floor with due-pass recommendations.
In a work session on House Bill 4,029, a presenter summarized changes requiring solar energy contractors and installers to hold licenses appropriate to the work they perform and to include mandatory disclosures in contracts. The committee adopted the dash-3 amendment, which requires warranties provided by a solar contractor to automatically transfer to a new residential property owner and adds a limited residential electrician to the licensing definition. Representative Grama moved adoption of the amendment; following no objections the committee adopted it and then voted to move HB 4,029 to the floor as amended with a due-pass recommendation. After a roll call, the motion carried.
The committee then opened a work session on House Bill 4,031. The bill would exempt certain renewable energy facilities from needing a site certificate from the Energy Facility Siting Council if construction begins on or before Dec. 31, 2028, and the facility qualifies for specified federal renewable energy tax credits. The dash-2 amendment tightened qualification criteria; Vice Chair Gamba moved the amendment and it was adopted after members confirmed the measure does not circumvent local authority. The committee voted to move HB 4,031 to the floor as amended with a due-pass recommendation; after roll call the motion carried.
The committee also moved House Joint Memorial 201 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. HJM 201 urges Congress to pass legislation to permanently extend federal tax cuts for wildfire victims; Representative Marsh and others noted wildfire survivors’ continuing recovery needs.
Next steps: All three measures were placed on the House floor calendar with due-pass recommendations. The committee indicated sponsors will carry the bills and staff will prepare any requested follow-up materials.
