Selling and other Trade Practices; certain protections for consumers relative to warranties of HVAC systems and components of such systems; extend
Summary
SB 112 amends Georgia’s trade practices laws to add consumer protections for warranties on residential HVAC systems and their components. The bill requires that when a home with a fixed HVAC system is sold, any manufacturer’s warranty still in effect automatically transfers to the new owner, continues as if the new owner were the original purchaser, and cannot be subject to a transfer fee. The transfer does not extend the remaining warranty term.
The bill also provides that the full term of an HVAC manufacturer’s, distributor’s, or retailer’s warranty becomes effective in Georgia on the date of installation, so long as the system is installed by a licensed contractor. In addition, if a warranty or product registration card or online form is provided, it must clearly state that it is for product registration and that failure to return it does not reduce warranty rights or shorten the warranty period. The bill further prohibits conditioning any HVAC warranty on product registration at all. The act takes effect January 1, 2026, and applies to covered warranties issued, sold, or offered on or after that date, including modifications or extensions made on or after that date.
Impact
SB 112 creates a new article in Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated governing HVAC warranty practices. It expands consumer warranty rights for residential property owners, imposes disclosure requirements on manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, and limits the use of product registration as a condition of warranty coverage. The bill affects warranty administration, home sales involving HVAC-equipped properties, and businesses that sell or service HVAC systems, while leaving the warranty term itself unchanged upon transfer.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition. It passed the Senate unanimously, 55-0, and the House overwhelmingly, 166-1, suggesting the measure was viewed favorably as a consumer protection bill. The available record includes no committee transcript debate, so the voting history is the main indicator of sentiment.
Contention
The main policy issue addressed by the bill is whether manufacturers and sellers can require product registration or limit warranty rights when a home changes hands. SB 112 resolves that in favor of consumers by mandating automatic transfer of existing warranties, barring transfer fees, and prohibiting warranty conditioning on registration. Any potential concern would likely come from manufacturers, distributors, or retailers that prefer registration-based warranty administration or tighter control over warranty transfers, but the recorded votes show minimal legislative resistance.