HB 1348 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Home Improvement Contractors - Disaster Mitigating Services - Regulation and Prohibition

HB 1348 bans home improvement contractors and their representatives from soliciting disaster victims within 48 hours after a disaster, such as a fire, flood, or hurricane. It defines "disaster" broadly to include natural events causing property harm and specifies that "contractor" covers those performing home renovations, repairs, or installations like decks or fences. Violating this ban is treated as an unfair trade practice under Maryland’s consumer protection law, subject to existing enforcement and penalties. The law applies to all affected contractors, excluding those with pre-existing business relationships with victims before the disaster.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Last action Apr 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Consumer Protection - Solicitation Following a Disaster - Prohibition → Third - Home Improvement Contractors - Disaster Mitigating Services - Regulation and Prohibition · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands the definition of 'home improvement' to include disaster mitigating services like boarding up windows, demolition to prevent further damage, and tarping roofs. It also adds new definitions for 'disaster mitigating services' and clarifies that 'disaster' includes fires, floods, hurricanes, and other natural events. The bill maintains existing prohibitions on soliciting disaster victims within 48 hours after a disaster.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from only covering traditional home improvement work to also include disaster mitigation services, bringing these services under the same licensing and regulatory framework as other home improvement work.

DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'disaster mitigating services' covering boarding up windows, demolition, water mitigation equipment, tarping/caulking roofs, and securing walls or roofs.

Modified the definition of 'home improvement' to include the provision of disaster mitigating services for residential buildings.

Added specific definition for 'disaster' to include fires, floods, hurricanes, and other natural events that cause harm to structures.

TECHNICAL

Changed the referenced code article from 'Commercial Law' to 'Business Regulation' for certain sections, likely reflecting organizational changes in Maryland's legal code structure.

Removed the exemption clause that previously excluded contractors with ongoing business relationships with victims before a disaster occurs.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2025

How they voted

94–28

Passed · 17 other

Total votes 139

Mar 16, 2025

D Democratic100

89 Yea 11

89% Yea

R Republican39

5 Yea 28 Nay 6

71% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 3, 2025

Committee

Rereferred to Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Referred Rules

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion Special Order until 04/01 (Delegate Nawrocki) Adopted

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters

lower

Mar 16, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (94-28-17)

house of delegates

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

First Reading Economic Matters

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors