SLGA Conference Helps Alaska Association Advance NOR Bill
The Alaska State Home Building Association notched a successful legislative session, highlighted by passage of the state’s “notice and opportunity to repair” bill, (H.B. 151) which was signed into law by Governor Frank Murkowski last week.

The legislation establishes a formal process for a homeowner to notify a builder of construction defects before filing a lawsuit and is part of an overall strategy to help builders work with insurers to lower premiums and risk, while helping to protect consumers.

Passage of this important legislation was a process that began in November 2002 at NAHB’s State & Local Government Affairs Conference. Vicki Portwood, executive officer of the Alaska State Building Association, said that the conference gave her association the tools it needed to help get the bill passed in one session.

Portwood and other Alaska builders used networking and breakout sessions to make critical contacts from Arizona and Texas, states with construction defect laws already on the books. “Colleagues were so willing to help,” she said, “and that saved our association a lot of time and money.”

The State & Local Government Affairs Conference is an intense, three-day event designed to share the latest in building industry legislative, regulatory, legal and political news and strategies. Geared to state and local lobbyists, executive officers, and politically active members, it is the only NAHB event whose sole focus is state and local issues.

For more information on the 2003 State & Local Government Affairs Conference, held November 6-8 in Wichita, Kansas, contact Marie Zenner. To learn about Alaska's notice and opportunity to repair bill, contact Vicki Portwood.
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