2026 Regular Session - Day 54 - SB 153 | Rep. Michael Meredith

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of the House, Senate Bill 153 seeks to address two issues, unscrupulous contractors and protecting Kentuckians who have been impacted by a natural disaster. The bill makes changes to the current Consumer Protection Code to encompass solicitors that may be working on behalf of a contractor. It requires contractors to include language in their contracts related to assignment of benefit prohibitions, which are already in the statute, prohibits vandalism to property in order to create an insurance claim and makes that a criminal act. It allows for the Attorney General to have concurrent jurisdiction with county attorneys and commonwealth attorneys in the prosecution of insurance fraud to make sure that we are getting those things taken care of and would establish a post-disaster registry for contractors engaging in the business of roof or siding repairs and replacement, along with water damage mitigation and tree or debris removal after a disaster. When the registry has been initiated, contractors have to have their certification available at each job site they work on, and then it would prohibit contractors from soliciting door-to-door for 90 days after a disaster to ensure that people, consumers affected and those solicitors would be safe in those disaster situations. That is what the bill does. I'd be happy to answer any questions that members may have, but would move passage of Senate Bill 153.