Delaware HB 89 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 19 AND 29 RELATING TO HOME IMPROVEMENT DISPUTE RESOLUTION.
Delaware, 153. HB 89: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 19 AND 29 RELATING TO HOME IMPROVEMENT DISPUTE RESOLUTION.
Latest action
September 24, 2026 — Signed by Governor
Summary
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
- Eric Morrison — primary sponsor
- Russell Huxtable — primary sponsor
- Melanie Ross Levin — primary sponsor
- Ray Seigfried — primary sponsor
- Claire Snyder-Hall — primary sponsor
- William Bush — primary sponsor
- Nicole Poore — primary sponsor
- Laura V. Sturgeon — primary sponsor
- Cyndie Romer — primary sponsor
- Mara Gorman — primary sponsor
- Brian Pettyjohn — primary sponsor
- Spiros Mantzavinos — primary sponsor
- Kerri Evelyn Harris — primary sponsor
- David L. Wilson — primary sponsor
- Franklin D. Cooke — primary sponsor
- Sarah McBride — primary sponsor
- Josue O Ortega — primary sponsor
- John "Jack" Walsh — primary sponsor
Bill text
Bill Text Read version ↗ Read version ↗
HA 1 to HB 89 Read version ↗ Read version ↗
Recorded votes
SM
June 11, 2026 · House · pass
yes: 40 · no: 0 · other: 1
Official vote source ↗Individual member positions (41)
| Member | Vote |
|---|---|
| Alonna Berry | yes |
| Stephanie T. Bolden | yes |
| Frank Burns | yes |
| William Bush | yes |
| William J. Carson | yes |
| Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha | yes |
| Richard G. Collins | yes |
| Franklin D. Cooke | yes |
| Daniel B. Short | yes |
| Timothy D. Dukes | yes |
| Mara Gorman | yes |
| Ronald E. Gray | yes |
| Krista Griffith | yes |
| Kerri Evelyn Harris | yes |
| Debra Heffernan | yes |
| Kevin S Hensley | other |
| Jeff Hilovsky | yes |
| Valerie Jones Giltner | yes |
| Kendra Johnson | yes |
| Kimberly Williams | yes |
| Kamela T Smith | yes |
| Larry Lambert | yes |
| Sean M. Lynn | yes |
| Michael F. Smith | yes |
| Melissa Minor-Brown | yes |
| Shannon Morris | yes |
| Eric Morrison | yes |
| DeShanna U Neal | yes |
| Josue O Ortega | yes |
| Edward S. Osienski | yes |
| Sophie Phillips | yes |
| Charles S Postles Jr. | yes |
| Cyndie Romer | yes |
| Melanie Ross Levin | yes |
| Sherae'a Moore | yes |
| Bryan W. Shupe | yes |
| Claire Snyder-Hall | yes |
| Jeffrey N. Spiegelman | yes |
| Jesse R. Vanderwende | yes |
| Madinah Wilson-Anton | yes |
| Lyndon D. Yearick | yes |
SM
June 25, 2026 · Senate · pass
yes: 21 · no: 0 · other: 0
Official vote source ↗Individual member positions (21)
| Member | Vote |
|---|---|
| Darius J. Brown | yes |
| Eric Buckson | yes |
| Daniel Cruce | yes |
| Stephanie L. Hansen | yes |
| Gerald W. Hocker | yes |
| Kyra L. Hoffner | yes |
| Russell Huxtable | yes |
| Dave G. Lawson | yes |
| S. Elizabeth Lockman | yes |
| Spiros Mantzavinos | yes |
| Trey Paradee | yes |
| Brian Pettyjohn | yes |
| Marie Pinkney | yes |
| Nicole Poore | yes |
| Bryant L. Richardson | yes |
| Ray Seigfried | yes |
| David P. Sokola | yes |
| Laura V. Sturgeon | yes |
| Bryan Townsend | yes |
| John "Jack" Walsh | yes |
| David L. Wilson | yes |
Legislative history
- Signed by Governor
- Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
- Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
- Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate
- Reported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
- Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate
- Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT
- Amendment HA 1 to HB 89 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
- Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 4 On Its Merits
- Amendment HA 1 to HB 89 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House
- Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 5 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
- Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House
State and local records are supplied by Plural Open (Open States), with links to original legislative sources. Coverage and update times vary. A vote passing one chamber does not mean a bill became law. State source changes are checked hourly; some detailed records may appear later because of source limits.