HB594 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Corley EllisRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Consumer Protection, Alabama State of Emergency Consumer Protection Act, enhanced criminal penalties provided under certain conditions, Secs. 13A-9-114, 34-8-6, 34-14A-14, 34-31-32, 34-36-16, 34-37-17 am'd.

Summary

HB 594 creates the Alabama State of Emergency Consumer Protection Act, making unlicensed work on emergency-damaged structures a Class C felony and expanding licensing penalties and enforcement across multiple trades.

What This Bill Does

It makes unlicensed provision of general contracting, residential homebuilding, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, or home repair services for structures damaged by a governor-declared state of emergency a Class C felony. It provides an exemption for charitable cleanup or repair work that does not require a license and for which no fee is charged. It updates licensing and enforcement rules across several trades, including license-number posting in contracts, and empowers boards to issue cease-and-desist orders, seek injunctions, and impose fines and restitution for violations; it also clarifies evidence of the emergency and does not bar other crimes from being charged.

Who It Affects

• Unlicensed contractors in general contracting, homebuilding, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and home repair who operate on emergency-damaged structures and could face a Class C felony upon violation.
• Property owners, developers, awarding authorities, and licensed contractors who must verify licenses, comply with board orders, and may face enforcement actions or requirements related to licensing, bidding, and contractual practices.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama State of Emergency Consumer Protection Act and creates a Class C felony for unlicensed provision of listed services on structures damaged by governor-declared emergencies.
• Exempts charitable cleanup or repair work that does not require a license and for which no fee is charged.
• Amends multiple licensing-related statutes to raise penalties (first conviction Class A misdemeanor; subsequent convictions Class C felony) and to authorize ceasing orders, injunctions, and fines by licensing boards.
• Requires license numbers to be included in contracts, bids, and proposals; imposes penalties for violations of license requirements.
• Authorizes boards to issue cease-and-desist orders, seek injunctions, impose fines (up to specified amounts per offense), and order restitution to victims.
• Allows temporary and permanent injunctions without bond for violations, and provides penalties including possible license-application withholding or denial for noncompliance.
• Specifies the act is effective three months after passage and clarifies it is excluded from local-funding expenditure constraints because it creates a new crime or amends an existing one.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Consumers and Consumer Protection