HB 428 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Solar Energy Amendments

HB 428 amends Utah's Residential Solar Energy Disclosure Act to improve transparency for homeowners purchasing or leasing residential solar systems. The bill requires solar retailers to disclose key details in agreements, including estimated energy production, projected savings (with clear assumptions), finance fees for loans, and sales representatives' compensation. It bans deceptive sales tactics and mandates that sales staff obtain certification and maintain bonds. These changes directly affect solar customers by providing clearer cost and performance information before signing contracts.

Issues: ✓ Energy

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 30, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly strengthens consumer protections for residential solar energy by updating definitions, requiring detailed disclosure of costs and savings estimates, and establishing strict rules for sales representatives. It mandates that sales reps be employees rather than independent contractors, requires certification and a $25,000 bond, and prohibits deceptive practices like hiding fees or guaranteeing tax credits.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of required disclosures to include battery storage components and clarifies that 'solar energy systems' now explicitly include batteries. It also tightens the definition of a 'sales representative' to ensure they are directly employed by the retailer.

DEFINITION

Added 'battery storage component' to the definition of a solar energy system and updated the definition of 'solar energy system' to explicitly include batteries.

REQUIREMENT

Requires all sales representatives to be employees of the solar retailer, receive compensation only reported on a W-2, and obtain active certification from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.

Mandates that sales representatives maintain a $25,000 surety bond to protect customers and retailers from misconduct.

Requires disclosure statements to include specific warnings about estimate variability, utility rate changes, and the non-guaranteed nature of tax incentives, plus a list of all finance fees.

Prohibits sales representatives from claiming guaranteed tax credits, utility approvals, or affiliation with government agencies unless true.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for the new sales representative certification and bonding requirements from May 6, 2026, to July 1, 2026.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ sent to Rules [House Rules Committee]

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Recommends Returned to Rules [House Public Utilities and Energy Committee]

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Not Considered [House Public Utilities and Energy Committee]

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Public Utilities and Energy Committee]

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors