Senate amendment would let tenants install plug‑in solar after 10‑day notice unless landlord responds

The committee reviewed a Senate proposed amendment to the plug‑in solar portion of S.202 that substantially changes the landlord‑tenant rules for tenant‑installed plug‑in solar devices.

Legislative Counsel Ellen J. Cassie told the committee the Senate removed the clause that would have allowed a landlord to deny a tenant’s request. Under the Senate draft, “a tenant shall provide at least 10 days notice to the landlord of the tenant’s intent to install [a] plug‑in solar device in compliance with subsection a. The landlord shall respond within 10 days with any reasonable restrictions on the installation, including requiring the tenant to pay for any required electrical work and hiring a licensed electrician to do the work.”

Cassie clarified the amendment preserves landlord protections around electrical safety: tenants cannot perform or hire unlicensed persons to do electrical work for the installation, and a landlord is not compelled to perform or pay for electrical work to allow installation.

Committee members noted this reverses an earlier default that would have prevented installation if a landlord fails to respond; under the Senate language, lack of a landlord response after 10 days allows the tenant to proceed. Members raised concerns about practical enforcement and the need for licensed electricians given safety standards such as UL 3700 cited in testimony.

Next steps
This change was presented as an informational heads up; the committee did not act on S.202 at this meeting and said it would return to the item during formal bill consideration.