WASHINGTON — At least eight states enacted or strengthened consumer protection laws in early 2026 requiring restoration contractors to provide plain-language written contracts before beginning work on disaster-damaged properties, addressing a persistent source of consumer complaints following major storms and floods.
The laws, which vary in their specific requirements, generally mandate that contracts include a clear description of the work to be performed, the estimated cost, the payment schedule, the contractor's license number, and a cancellation provision allowing homeowners to cancel within three business days.
Consumer advocates have long documented cases in which homeowners — often elderly, non-English-speaking, or in a state of shock following a disaster — signed contracts they did not understand, resulting in unexpected charges, liens on their properties, or substandard work.
The Restoration Industry Association has supported plain-language contract requirements, noting that reputable contractors already use clear written contracts and that the laws primarily target the bad actors who prey on disaster victims.
Several states have also enacted requirements that restoration contracts be provided in the homeowner's primary language when the contractor knows or should know that the homeowner is not fluent in English — a provision that has been particularly significant in states with large Spanish-speaking populations.
