Substitute House Bill No. 6963, also known as Public Act No. 25-53, amends existing laws related to municipal approvals and the New Home Construction Guaranty Fund, with an effective date of October 1, 2025. The bill extends the expiration period for site plan and subdivision approvals made before certain dates, allowing for extensions of up to nineteen years. It introduces a new definition of "business" and establishes criteria for violations of site plan or subdivision requirements, empowering zoning enforcement officers to initiate enforcement actions. Municipalities are granted the authority to impose penalties for zoning violations, with fines capped at $150 per day, payable to the municipality's treasurer. The bill also updates the inland wetlands agency's process for issuing violation orders, ensuring individuals have a hearing opportunity within ten days.

Additionally, the bill modifies the New Home Construction Guaranty Fund regulations, requiring individuals receiving a certificate to pay an annual fee of $240. It lowers the fund's balance threshold from $700,000 to $650,000, redistributing excess funds to the consumer protection enforcement account and the General Fund. The maximum claim amount from the fund has been increased from $30,000 to $50,000, and provisions for restitution payments have been introduced. The commissioner is granted authority to pursue restitution from contractors and to consolidate complaints against a single contractor. The bill also establishes that both contractors and proprietors are liable for debts resulting from fund payments, and it outlines conditions for the revocation of a contractor's certificate if they fail to reimburse the fund.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 8-12, 20-417a, 20-417i
PD Joint Favorable Substitute: 20-417a, 20-417i
File No. 620: 20-417a, 20-417i
File No. 810: 20-417a, 20-417i
Public Act No. 25-53: 20-417a, 20-417i