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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3447 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 362
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Ann-Margaret Ferrante
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to partial payment.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Ann-Margaret Ferrante5th Essex1/17/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3447 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 362
By Representative Ferrante of Gloucester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 362) of
Ann-Margaret Ferrante for legislation to further regulate residential contracting agreements.
Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 288 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to partial payment.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 2 of chapter 142A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out clause (6), and inserting in place thereof the
3following:-
4 (6) a time schedule of payments to be made under said contract and the amount of each
5payment stated in dollars, including all finance charges. Any deposit required under the contract
6to be paid in advance of the commencement of work under said contract shall not exceed the
7greater of one-third of the total contract price or the actual cost of any materials or equipment of
8a special order or custom made nature, which must be ordered in advance of the commencement
9of work, in order to assure that the project will proceed on schedule. No final payment shall be
10demanded until the contract is completed to the satisfaction of the parties thereto; provided, 2 of 2
11however, the provisions of this clause (6), except for the first sentence, shall not apply to
12contractors furnishing a performance and payment bond, lien or completion bond, or a bond
13equivalent approved by the director of consumer affairs and business regulation covering a
14minimum of two million dollars;
15 SECTION 2. Said section 2 of chapter 142A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended
16by adding at the end thereof the following:-
17 Any violation of this section shall constitute an unfair method of competition or unfair or
18deceptive act or practice in violation of chapter 93A.