Committee reports S.179 and S.183, advancing a uniform disclaimer bill and correcting home‑improvement fraud language

The Judiciary Committee on April 7 moved two bills forward: S.179, described as an act relating to the Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act, and S.183, which revises statutory language on home‑improvement and land‑improvement fraud after courts found portions unconstitutional.

Chair said S.179 is a uniform commission law judged "very much needed" and that, if held out, the bill will go to Ways and Means. The committee took a brief roll-call-style check and indicated it would report S.179 to the next committee.

On S.183, the Chair said the bill corrects language that two superior court judges had found unconstitutional; the committee heard from the Attorney General's office and the relevant secretary, who said the revised language remedies the problem. A member asked whether the judges who found the prior language unconstitutional had been asked for input; the Chair said courts generally do not provide advisory opinions on constitutionality but that testimony from counsel indicated the fixes were acceptable.

The committee moved and seconded motions to advance both bills and signaled support; clerical and scheduling matters were addressed before the committee moved on to longer items. The transcript excerpts provided do not contain a full numeric vote tally for these motions but record the committee's decision to report the bills out for the next stage.