2SHB 1534 — Strengthening protections for consumers in the construction industry.

What this bill does

Raises the required bond amounts for contractor registration from $12,000 to $30,000 for general contractors and from $6,000 to $15,000 for specialty contractors. Requires the Department of Labor and Industries to deny an application for registration when the applicant is a successor to a business entity with an unsatisfied final judgment against it. Raises the fine for failure to register as a contractor from a range of $1,000 to $5,000 to a range of $1,200 to $6,000. Requires fines and penalties collected under the Contractor Registration Act to be deposited into the Homeowner Recovery Account. Establishes the Homeowner Recovery Program for eligible homeowners to receive recovery payments of up to $25,000 from the Homeowner Recovery Account based on unsatisfied final judgments brought against registered contractors, subject to certain requirements and limitations.

From the Washington State Legislature's nonpartisan staff bill analysis. Read the full analysis ↗

Floor votes

• House — 3rd Reading & Final Passage · March 8, 2023
  95 yea · 0 nay · 3 not voting
• House — Final Passage as Amended by the Senate · April 13, 2023
  97 yea · 0 nay · 1 not voting
• Senate — 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate · April 11, 2023
  49 yea · 0 nay

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