House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	January 18, 2023 12:06 PM
From:	Representative Joseph C. Hohenstein and Rep. MaryLouise Isaacson, Rep. Pat Gallagher, Rep. Chris Pielli
To:	All House members
Subject:	Residential Construction Protection Package Re-introduction of former House Bill 1854, House Bill 1855, House Bill 1856, and House Bill 1857

A family’s most valuable investment is their home. It is where we watch our children grow, where we celebrate life’s victories, and where we comfort one another during difficult times. In recent years, several issues have arisen in the Philadelphia region regarding residential construction and faulty, defective building materials and/or building techniques. It can be devastating for a family to learn that because of shoddy techniques used during construction, they now are facing repairs that could cost tens of thousands of dollars or much more.

Because we believe homeowners deserve a fair deal, we are re-introducing a four-bill package that seeks to protect family homes and increase standards and safeguards for residential homes.

This bill package includes the following:

Document #1

Introduced as HB691

Description:	Former HB 1854 - Residential Construction Lemon Law - As we have seen from the automotive industry, too often lawsuits are added to the “cost of doing business” and the only way to ensure that proper attention is paid to quality and safety is to ensure that purchasers have a remedy in law for a defective product. This legislation will create such a guarantee which will provide that if there are a number of defects in new construction within the first two years from delivery to the owner, the builder shall repair construction defects at no cost to the owner within six months or could be liable for double the repair costs. Previous co-sponsors: ISAACSON, SANCHEZ, DRISCOLL, CIRESI and HERRIN

Document #2

Introduced as HB692

Description:	Former HB 1855 - Amending the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act – This bill addresses “house flipping.” The bill requires that for a house flipper to be considered an “owner” under the law, they must live in the home as a private residence for one year following construction. This closes a loophole and ensures that house flippers are held responsible for the residences that they are rehabilitating. Previous co-sponsors: ISAACSON, SANCHEZ, DRISCOLL and HERRIN

Document #3

Introduced as HB693

Description:	Former HB 1856 - Adjacent Neighbor’s Bill of Rights – This bill advises homeowners, in particular if they share a party wall or are a rowhome, of their rights and the laws surrounding construction including limitations on the hours when construction can occur, rights to clean and safe access, and rights to hold developers and contractors liable for any damage or disobedience to the law. Previous co-sponsors: ISAACSON, SANCHEZ, KINSEY, DRISCOLL and HERRIN

Document #4

Introduced as HB694

Description:	Former HB 1857 - Continuing Education for Construction Code Officials – Enhances the continuing education requirements for code enforcement officers to include education on illegal construction practices and adds the Attorney General as an entity capable of providing continuing education. The legislation will also require continuing education for residential building code inspectors to include education on proper installation of stucco. Previous co-sponsors: ISAACSON, SANCHEZ, DRISCOLL and HERRIN