MD SB578

Maryland Home Improvement Commission gains authority to award attorney's fees from the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund, capped at the amount awarded for actual loss, with total awards not exceeding $30,000 per claimant

Claimants seeking payment from the Fund via court judgment or arbitration award must show the court/arbitrator found they are entitled to compensation "in accordance with" § 8-405(a), replacing the previous requirement for an "express" finding

Fund maintains existing limits: $30,000 maximum per claimant per contractor, $250,000 maximum for all claimants per contractor, and awards cannot exceed what the claimant paid to the contractor

Fund continues to exclude coverage for consequential damages, court costs, interest, personal injury damages, punitive damages, and default judgments

Effective date: October 1, 2025