Senate Bill 180 Summary

• Establishes licensure requirements for home inspectors under new Article 14, requiring applicants to complete 80 credit hours of education, participate in 200 home inspections under a licensed inspector, pass an approved examination, and be at least 18 years old with no felony convictions.

• Implements a one-year transitional period allowing existing home inspectors to obtain licenses by documenting three years of prior experience with at least 200 fee-paid inspections and passing the examination, without meeting standard education requirements.

• Requires written contracts between home inspectors and clients that include scope of services, disclaimers regarding future performance, exclusions for non-visible defects, and disclosures of any financial interests in the property being inspected.

• Mandates home inspection reports include lists of inspected and non-inspected major systems, statements limiting validity to inspection date, and 18-month record retention by inspectors; restricts home inspectors from performing repairs on properties they have inspected.

• Sets licensing fees at $100 application fee, $100 annual license fee, $200 examination fee, and $20 examination review fee; establishes 12-month statute of limitations for filing complaints and requires 20 hours of annual continuing education.