Home Improvement Contractors - Disaster Mitigation Services and Fraudulent Insurance Acts - Regulation and Prohibition

HB 1351 expands Maryland's licensing requirements for home improvement contractors to include specific "disaster mitigation services," such as boarding windows, tarping roofs, demolition to prevent further damage, and securing walls after disasters. This change directly affects homeowners (who gain the right to cancel contracts for these services under certain conditions), contractors (who must now hold licenses for such work), and local counties (which can limit in-person solicitation of disaster victims by contractors). Key provisions include adding these services to the legal definition of "home improvement" under licensing rules, allowing owners to rescind contracts for disaster mitigation services, and giving counties authority to restrict contractor solicitation near disaster sites. The bill aims to regulate contractor activities during emergencies while providing clearer consumer protections.