House Bill No. by Representative Walters amends the existing law on contractor fraud to broaden its scope beyond residential properties to include commercial properties as well. The bill modifies the definition of contractor fraud, which now encompasses the misappropriation or intentional taking of value from any property, regardless of whether it is primarily designed for residential or commercial use. Additionally, the bill updates the terminology from "residential contractor fraud" to simply "contractor fraud" and clarifies that the penalties for fraud remain applicable to both types of properties.

Furthermore, the bill retains the existing provisions that impose additional penalties for offenders who commit fraud against victims aged 65 or older, but specifies that this enhanced penalty applies only to cases involving residential properties. The amendments also include changes to the restitution requirements for convicted individuals, ensuring that victims receive compensation for both the cost of repairing fraudulent work and for completing any unfinished work. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen protections against contractor fraud across a wider range of property types while maintaining specific safeguards for vulnerable populations.

Statutes affected:
HB70 Original: 14:1(A)