In an effort to protect homeowners from a growing trend in new home construction defects and provide homebuyers with legal remedies and additional resources, Rep. Springer (D-Kirkland) has introduced House Bill 1393.

The bill addresses residential real-property construction improvements through consumer education, warranty provisions, contractor registration requirements, and worker certification standards.

By declaring the intent to establish worker certification requirements, the bill begins a process to assure that construction workers are properly trained prior to building. In the future, certification would be required for construction work within the areas of foundation, framing, siding, roofing, windows and doors.

The bill also strengthens disclosure requirements for residential contractors by adding past suspensions, bankruptcies and revocations from other states to the mandatory disclosures already required by Labor & Industries.

“The Legislature has heard testimony from homebuyers affected by shoddy construction for years. This is still a major problem, and this is a starting point for responding to those issues,” Springer said.