Bill > SB331

This bill aims to modify Hawaii's laws regarding construction defect claims by expanding the requirements and processes for filing such claims. The legislation requires that when a property owner (claimant) wants to file a construction defect claim, they must provide detailed, specific evidence about the nature and cause of the defect, including expert reports, photographs, and testing results. The bill introduces a more structured approach to resolving construction defect disputes by requiring claimants to first serve a comprehensive notice to the contractor, which must include precise details about the alleged defect. The contractor is then given opportunities to inspect the property, propose repairs, or offer monetary settlements. If a claimant unreasonably rejects a contractor's proposal to inspect or remedy the defect, the bill limits the claimant's potential recovery to the value of the original offer and can prevent the claimant from recovering attorneys' fees. The underlying motivation for these changes is to reduce insurance costs in the construction industry by creating a more balanced and deliberate process for addressing construction defects, which the legislature believes have contributed to rising housing costs in Hawaii.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=331&year=2025