The Substitute House Bill No. 6052 amends the Home Solicitation Sales Act to enhance consumer protection, particularly concerning residential solar photovoltaic systems. It introduces new definitions, including "consumer," "solar seller," and "municipality," while expanding the definition of "consumer good" to include solar products. The bill clarifies the scope of "home solicitation sale" to cover sales, leases, or rentals solicited outside the seller's business premises. Significant changes include the replacement of the term "buyer" with "consumer" throughout the text, the establishment of a "no home solicitation sales" listing for consumers, and the requirement for sellers to check this list monthly. The bill also imposes obligations on solar sellers, such as providing consumer brochures, carrying valid identification, and adhering to designated solicitation hours.

Additionally, the bill repeals and replaces Section 42-134a of the general statutes, streamlining definitions and exclusions related to home solicitation sales. It mandates that sellers honor valid cancellation notices within ten business days and return any payments and goods within the same timeframe. The bill reduces penalties for violations from criminal to civil, with fines up to $20,000 for non-compliance. It also requires residential solar lenders to provide payoff statements within seven days of a request. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025, and the Department of Consumer Protection will need to hire additional staff to implement the new regulations, resulting in projected costs for the upcoming fiscal years.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 42-134a, 42-135a, 42-136, 42-137, 42-138, 42-139, 42-140, 42-141
GL Joint Favorable: 42-134a, 42-135a, 42-136, 42-137, 42-138, 42-139, 42-140, 42-141
File No. 616: 42-134a, 42-135a, 42-136, 42-137, 42-138, 42-139, 42-140, 42-141