SB 112: Selling and other Trade Practices; certain protections for consumers relative to warranties of HVAC systems and components of such systems; extend

Currently, homeowners who buy a house with an existing heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system may not know whether the manufacturer's warranty on that system still applies to them. This bill adds a new article to Georgia's trade practices law (O.C.G.A. Title 10, Chapter 1) addressing that gap. When a home with an HVAC system is sold, any manufacturer's warranty on the system or its parts automatically transfers to the new owner, continues on the same terms, and cannot be extended in length or charged a transfer fee. The bill also says the full warranty term starts on the date of installation if a state-licensed HVAC contractor installs the system, and it requires any registration card or form to clearly state that registration is optional and that not returning it will not reduce warranty rights. Warranties cannot be conditioned on product registration. These rules take effect January 1, 2026, and apply to warranties issued, sold, or modified on or after that date.

• Automatically transfers a manufacturer's HVAC warranty to a new homeowner when the property is sold, without any transfer fee.
• Prevents a warranty transfer from extending the original remaining warranty period.
• Starts the full warranty term on the installation date when the HVAC system is installed by a contractor licensed under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 14 of Title 43).
• Requires warranty and product registration cards or forms to clearly state that registration is optional and that skipping it won't reduce warranty coverage.
• Bans manufacturers, distributors, and retailers from making an HVAC warranty depend on the customer registering the product.
• Sets an effective date of January 1, 2026, applying to warranties issued, sold, or modified on or after that date.

Homeowners buying or selling homes with HVAC systems, HVAC manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who issue warranties, and licensed HVAC contractors whose installation date now determines when a warranty term begins.

Homebuyers would keep manufacturer warranty protection on HVAC systems they inherit with a house, without paying extra or losing coverage for skipping registration. This could reduce unexpected repair costs and confusion over whether existing warranties still apply after a home sale.

• New Code Section 10-1-960 defines 'HVAC' as heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning.
• Code Section 10-1-961 automatically transfers manufacturer warranties on HVAC systems to new homeowners at no cost and without extending the remaining warranty term.
• Code Section 10-1-962(a) starts the full warranty term at the installation date when a licensed contractor performs the installation.
• Code Section 10-1-962(b) requires clear disclosures on registration cards or forms that registration is optional and non-return won't hurt warranty rights.
• Code Section 10-1-962(c) prohibits conditioning any HVAC warranty on product registration.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as January 1, 2026, applying to warranties issued, sold, or modified on or after that date.

1. 2026-01-01Effective Date
2. 2025-05-14Act 285
3. 2025-05-14Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-07Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-03-25House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2025-03-25House Third Readers (House)
7. 2025-03-20House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2025-03-10House Second Readers (House)

• Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)Primary sponsor
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-8)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-24)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-13)
• Harold Jones II (D, SD-22)
• Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-19)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-11)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-51)
• John Corbett (R, HD-174)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 4, 2025

   55 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 1 excused)

   PASSAGE: Senate Vote #146

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 25, 2025

   166 yea, 1 nay (6 not voting, 7 excused)

   PASSAGE: House Vote #306

• HVAC warranties
• consumer protection
• home buying
• product registration
• trade practices law