Skip to content
Politically.com Search all
Menu

Delaware 153

HB 89

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 19 AND 29 RELATING TO HOME IMPROVEMENT DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

Open original source Back to bills
Source: Open States / PluralUpdated 2026-10-26 14:11:02 UTC.

Official record

Measure details

Jurisdiction
Delaware
Session
153
Chamber
lower
Classification
bill
Subjects
Not supplied
Introduced / first action
2025-03-25 00:00:00

Alternate titles

  • Home Improvement Dispute Resolution Process/Establish short title

Source-supplied abstracts

This Act directs the Division of Consumer Protection to establish a Home Improvement Dispute Resolution process through which a person who purchases home improvement services or materials from a contractor can initiate a dispute resolution process with the assistance of the Division. To be eligible for the dispute resolution process, the buyer must first send the contractor a written request to resolve the dispute and allow the contractor 20 days to respond. If the dispute is not resolved or the contractor fails to respond, the buyer may submit an application to the Division for assistance. Upon receiving notice from the Division that the buyer has initiated the dispute resolution process, a contractor must participate in good faith in the process. If the contractor fails to respond to the notice or fails to participate in good faith, it is deemed a violation of the Consumer Fraud Act and a notice will also be sent to the Department of Labor. A contractor who fails to participate in good faith in the dispute resolution process may also have their certificate of registration denied, suspended, or revoked. This Act also establishes that a buyer who initiates a civil action for damages incurred as a result of a violation of the Consumer Fraud Act related to a home improvement contract may be awarded actual damages, court costs, and reasonable attorneys fees. A buyer who initiates a civil action may also obtain up to treble damages if the buyer completed the steps to be eligible for the dispute resolution process, if the buyer made an offer of settlement at least 10 days prior to filing the civil suit and the contractor rejected the offer, if the offer was for less than the buyer is ultimately awarded by the court, and if the court holds that the contractor’s violation was wilful. This Act takes effect immediately and is to be implemented 6 months from the date of enactment.

Sponsors

Source-supplied history

Actions

  1. Signed by Governor

    executive-signature

  2. Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

    passage

  3. Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits

    committee-passage

  4. Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate

    introduction, referral-committee

  5. Reported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits

    committee-passage

  6. Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate

    introduction, referral-committee

  7. Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT

    passage

  8. Amendment HA 1 to HB 89 - Passed In House by Voice Vote

    amendment-passage

  9. Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 4 On Its Merits

    committee-passage

  10. Amendment HA 1 to HB 89 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

    amendment-introduction

  11. Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House

    introduction, referral-committee

  12. Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 5 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits

    committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable

  13. Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

    introduction, referral-committee

When supplied by the API

Related measures

No resolvable related measure is supplied.