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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0929*
SENATE BILL 929
C2 6lr3541
CF 6lr1622
By: Senator Harris
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Home Improvement Contractors – Disaster Mitigation Services – Regulation 2
and Prohibition 3
FOR the purpose of altering the definition of “home improvement” to include the provision 4
of certain disaster mitigation services for purposes of licensing and regulation of 5
home improvement contractors; authorizing a certain owner to rescind a home 6
improvement contract for disaster mitigation services under certain circumstances; 7
authorizing the governing body of a county to impose certain limitations on 8
in–person solicitation of a victim of a disaster by a contractor offering disaster 9
mitigation services; and generally relating to solicitation following a disaster. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Business Regulation 12
Section 8–101 and 8–501(c)(1)(viii) and (ix) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY adding to 16
Article – Business Regulation 17
Section 8–501(c)(1)(x), 8–501.1, and 8–507 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 21
Article – Business Regulation 22
Section 8–501(c)(2) and (3) and (f) 23
Annotated Code of Maryland 24
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 25
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 26
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 27
2 SENATE BILL 929
Article – Business Regulation 1
8–101. 2
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
(b) “Commission” means the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. 4
(c) “Contractor” means a person, other than an employee of an owner, who 5
performs or offers or agrees to perform a home improvement for an owner. 6
(d) “Contractor license” means a license issued by the Commission to act as a 7
contractor. 8
(E) “DISASTER MITIGATION SERVICES” INCLUDES: 9
(1) BOARDING UP WINDOWS OR DOORS TO SECURE A BUILDING; 10
(2) DEMOLITION OF A STRUCTURE TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE; 11
(3) SETTING WATER MITIGATION EQUIPMENT; 12
(4) TARPING OR CAULKING A ROOF OR BUILDING A FTER DAMAGE ; 13
AND 14
(5) SECURING A WALL OR ROOF TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. 15
[(e)] (F) “Fund” means the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund. 16
[(f)] (G) “Hearing board” means a home improvement hearing board appointed 17
by the Commission under § 8–313 of this title. 18
[(g)] (H) (1) “Home improvement” means: 19
(i) 1. the addition to or alteration, conversion, improvement, 20
modernization, remodeling, repair, or replacement of a building or part of a building that 21
is used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling place or a structure adjacent to 22
that building; or 23
[(ii)] 2. an improvement to land adjacent to the building; OR 24
(II) THE PROVISION OF DISASTER MITIGATION SERVICES FOR A 25
BUILDING OR PART OF A BUILDING THAT IS U SED OR DESIGNED TO B E USED AS A 26
RESIDENCE OR DWELLING PLACE OR A STRUCTURE ADJACENT TO THAT BUILDING. 27
SENATE BILL 929 3
(2) “Home improvement” includes: 1
(i) construction, improvement, or replacement, on land adjacent to 2
the building, of a driveway, fall –out shelter, fence, garage, landscaping, deck, pier, porch, 3
or swimming pool; 4
(ii) a shore erosion control project, as defined under § 8 –1001 of the 5
Natural Resources Article, for a residential property; 6
(iii) connection, installation, or replacement, in the building or 7
structure, of a dishwasher, disposal, or refrigerator with an icemaker to existing exposed 8
household plumbing lines; 9
(iv) installation, in the building or structure, of an awning, fire 10
alarm, or storm window; and 11
(v) work done on individual condominium units. 12
(3) “Home improvement” does not include: 13
(i) construction of a new home; 14
(ii) work done to comply with a guarant ee of completion for a new 15
building project; 16
(iii) connection, installation, or replacement of an appliance to 17
existing exposed plumbing lines that requires alteration of the plumbing lines; 18
(iv) sale of materials, if the seller does not arrange to perform or does 19
not perform directly or indirectly any work in connection with the installation or application 20
of the materials; 21
(v) work done on apartment buildings that contain four or more 22
single–family units; or 23
(vi) work done on the commonly owned areas of condominiums. 24
[(h)] (I) “Home improvement contract” means an oral or written agreement 25
between a contractor and owner for the contractor to perform a home improvement. 26
[(i)] (J) (1) “License” means, except where it refers to a license other than 27
one issued under this title, a license issued by the Commission. 28
(2) “License” includes: 29
(i) a contractor license; and 30
4 SENATE BILL 929
(ii) a salesperson license. 1
[(j)] (K) “Licensed contractor” means a person who is licensed by the 2
Commission to act as a contractor. 3
[(k)] (L) “Owner” includes a homeowner, tenant, or other person who buys, 4
contracts for, orders, or is entitled to a home improvement. 5
[(l)] (M) “Salesperson” means a person who sells a home improvement. 6
[(m)] (N) “Salesperson license” means a license issued by the Commission to sell 7
a home improvement. 8
[(n)] (O) “Sell a home improvement” means: 9
(1) to negotiate or offer to negotiate a home improvement contract with an 10
owner; or 11
(2) to seek to get a home improvement contract from an owner. 12
[(o)] (P) “Subcontractor” means a person, other than a laborer or supplier of 13
materials, who makes an oral or written agreement with: 14
(1) a contractor to perform all or part of a home improvement contract; or 15
(2) another subcontractor to perform all or part of a subcontract to a home 16
improvement contract. 17
8–501. 18
(c) (1) In addition to any other matters on which the parties lawfully agree, 19
each home improvement contract shall contain: 20
(viii) a notice that gives the t elephone number and website of the 21
Commission and states that: 22
1. each contractor must be licensed by the Commission; and 23
2. anyone may ask the Commission about a contractor; [and] 24
(ix) a notice set by the Commission by regulation that: 25
1. specifies the protections available to consumers through 26
the Commission; and 27
SENATE BILL 929 5
2. advises the consumer of the right to purchase a 1
performance bond for additional protection against loss; AND 2
(X) IF THE CONTRACT IS F OR THE PROVISION OF DISASTER 3
MITIGATION SERVICES, NOTICE OF THE OWNER’S RIGHT TO RESCIND THE CONTRACT 4
UNDER § 8–501.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 5
(2) If payment for work performed under the home improvement contract 6
will be secured by an interest in residential real estate, a written notice in not smaller than 7
10 point bold type that is on the first page of the contract shall state in substantially the 8
following form: “This contract creates a mortgage or lien against your property to secure 9
payment and may cause a loss of your property if you fail to pay the amount agreed upon. 10
You have the right to consult an attorney. You have the right to rescind this contract within 11
3 business days after the date you sign it by notifying the contractor in writing that you are 12
rescinding the contract.” 13
(3) The notice under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be 14
independently initialed by the homeowner. 15
(f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a home 16
improvement contract for the installation of a solar energy generating system o n the roof 17
of a building shall include the installation of a barrier that meets industry standards to 18
prevent wildlife intrusion and damage to the solar energy generating system or the 19
underlying roof. 20
(2) A home improvement contract for the installation of a solar energy 21
generating system on the roof of a building is not required to include the installation of a 22
barrier as specified under paragraph (1) of this subsection if the customer has waived the 23
installation of the barrier after being informed of the cost of the barrier and the risks of not 24
installing a wildlife barrier. 25
8–501.1. 26
(A) (1) IF A HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR SOLICITS AN OWNER AND 27
THE OWNER SIGNS A CONTRACT FOR DISASTER MITIGATING SERVICES, THE OWNER 28
MAY RESCIND THE CONT RACT WITHIN 5 DAYS AFTER ENTERING INTO THE 29
CONTRACT. 30
(2) AN OWNER THAT RESCINDS A HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT IN 31
ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY MORE THAN THE 32
AMOUNT INDICATED AND INITIALED BY THE OWNER, IN THE CONTRACT. 33
(B) A HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT FOR DISASTER MITIGAT ION 34
SERVICES SHALL: 35
6 SENATE BILL 929
(1) COMPLY WITH THE REQU IREMENTS OF § 14–302 OF THE 1
COMMERCIAL LAW ARTICLE; AND 2
(2) INCLUDE THE FOLLOWIN G LANGUAGE , WHICH SHALL BE 3
INITIALED BY THE OWNER: 4
“DURING THE FIRST 5 DAYS AFTER T HIS CONTRACT IS SIGN ED, THE OWNER 5
HAS THE RIGHT TO RESCIND THE CONTRACT AND BE LIABLE ONLY FOR AN AMOUNT 6
NOT TO EXCEED $_______(FILL IN AMOUNT) AND _____ (OWNER INITIALS).”. 7
8–507. 8
(A) IN THIS SECTION, “DISASTER” MEANS A SERIOUS EVENT THAT: 9
(1) CAUSES HARM TO A HOME, BUILDING, OR OTHER STRUCTURE; AND 10
(2) REQUIRES EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES. 11
(B) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A CONTRACTO R, OR A PERSON 12
ACTING ON BEHALF OF A CONTRACTOR, WHO IS ENGAGED IN AN ONGOING BUSINESS 13
RELATIONSHIP, OTHER THAN MERE SOLICITATION, WITH A VICTIM OF A D ISASTER 14
BEFORE THE DISASTER OCCURS. 15
(C) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE EXISTENCE OF A D ISASTER IS 16
NOT CONTINGENT ON TH E DECLARATION OF A S TATE OF EMERGENCY BY THE 17
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT O R THE GOVERNOR UNDER § 14–107 OF THE PUBLIC 18
SAFETY ARTICLE, OR A LOCAL DISASTER DECLARATION AS DEFIN ED UNDER § 19
14–110.5 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE. 20
(D) THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY MAY IMPOSE LIMITATIONS ON 21
IN–PERSON SOLICITATION OF A VICTIM OF A DIS ASTER BY A CONTRACTO R 22
OFFERING DISASTER MI TIGATION SERVICES , INCLUDING LIMITATION S ON THE 23
HOURS DURING WHICH A ND AREAS WITHIN WHIC H IN–PERSON SOLICITATION MAY 24
OCCUR. 25
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 26
October 1, 2026. 27