In a historic moment for Rockland County, county leaders have sent a clear message: new business is welcome.
Following a bipartisan vote Tuesday night, the Rockland County Legislature officially approved sweeping amendments to its controversial Home Improvement Law, aligning it more closely with the model used in Westchester County and marking a major shift in how business will be conducted across the county.
The measure passed overwhelmingly, 14ā1, with two legislators absent. The lone opposing vote came from Republican Rockland County Legislator Thomas Diviny, while the rest of the body backed the sweeping reforms.
The vote represents the culmination of nearly two years of effort, driven by collaboration between lawmakers and private-sector community activists who set out to modernize outdated regulations, encourage economic growth, and ensure a smoother, more practical process for both businesses and homeowners.
What began with a series of meetings involving local business owners, coordinated by the Rockland Jewish Alliance, quickly grew into a full-scale initiative to overhaul the system. Leading that effort was Assemblymember Aron Wieder, who, during his time as a county legislator, launched a mission to reshape consumer protection laws so they would better reflect their original purpose: protecting residents without stifling opportunity.
The effort ultimately became a broad bipartisan push, with key contributions from community activist Yehuda Zorger, Rockland County Legislator Joel Friedman, Rockland County Legislator Itamar Yeger, Assemblymember Aron Wieder, Ramapo Democratic Chairman Mona Montal, and numerous other local activists and elected officials who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring the measure to the finish line.
The newly adopted reforms introduce several significant changes:
The Consumer Protection Board will now serve in an advisory capacity only, restoring it to its intended role.
A new āManagerā category has been created, allowing homeowners to hire subcontractors directly while appointing a representative to oversee projects ā a move expected to save residents tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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Requirements for decals on personal vehicles have been eliminated, easing financial burdens on small business owners.
In addition, the overall home improvement licensing process in Rockland has been streamlined and brought in line with the more efficient system currently used in Westchester County.
Supporters say the changes will remove unnecessary red tape, legalize and regulate previously unlicensed operations, and create a more business-friendly environment, all while maintaining meaningful consumer protections.
With the legislation now passed, many are calling this a turning point for Rockland County, one that signals a new day, a new dawn, and a renewed commitment to economic growth, fairness, and opportunity for all
14ā1. They just gutted homeowner protection in Rockland County.
This isnāt reform ā itās a sellout.
No real testing.
No expert oversight.
Unlicensed āproject managersā now running jobs.
A contractorās license now means one thing: you filled out paperwork.
š„ More bad work is coming.
š„ More risk inside peopleās homes.
š„ And when it goes wrong ā itās on them.
14 voted for it.
1 had the courage to say no.
āļø If this was traded for a sewer deal, thatās not politics ā thatās putting deals over safety.
Remember this vote.
My husband is in the service industry and the tests and requirements are not consistent with anything and have no rhyme and reason but take loads of money. He is taking tests using outdated codes because that’s the ‘standard’. When it becomes about multiple licenses and fees and not about knowledge or credibility, all respect for the ‘oversight’ is lost. And it’s so inconsistent and only mandatory for the newer ones..meaning the old ones can work without it..my husband is working for over 20 years in Rockland in his industry and it’s been blatant BS from day one. Noone is safer, more protected because of it..ppl just find ways around it cuz it makes no sense and is not justified. Until now ppl were afraid to speak up..well I hope this is the beginning to honesty and accountability. His practice has always been about that, why wasn’t the oversight dept too?
Justin Schwartz, your nonstop screaming āselloutā while dodging the actual issues and attacking 14 legislators and everyone who worked hard to build bipartisan support says everything. You donāt offer solutions, you just play the same tired role every time: pessimistic, antagonistic, and obsessed with tearing things down. Youāre incapable of recognizing progress unless it gives you another excuse to complain, blame, and punish.
We all know “Rabbi” Schwarz is a wannabe hack, please consider the source. Always bleating for self-aggrandizement, under the pretense of fire safety, always with a warped coveting of power.
Justin, the laws never protected the consumers. The laws about signs and vehicle lettering are there to fine contractors. Explain why someone on a job site needs to have a sign identifying what company is there? They’ve been hired already. How does that sign protect the consumer? It’s absence however, can cost the contractor $3000 in fines. I know someone who was fined $3000 for wearing a T-shirt with a different name than the the company he was working with. Consumer protection is a farce.
Aron weider was in the legislation and 13 years it didn’t pass (tnx his ego ppl paid/lost millions)
Now that he left BH it’s passed tnx to the Republicans and Democrats which worked hard on it
Such as community ppl
Yehuad zorget
Meir tuber
Moshe English
Yanky fligman
×Ŗ××× ×¢×××× ××Ø××
Btw maybe some ppl will take the credit that they don’t deserve but we know the emes
Having a license in Rockland doesn’t mean you are competent. It meant that you could pass a written test and paid a fee. I’ve seen expensive jobs done by licensed companies that were done poorly and incorrectly. Failed retaining walls, lousy framing jobs, back pitched sewer lines, to name a few. There is no reason a homeowner should not be free to choose his own contractors and/or subs who aren’t from the area and therefore not licensed in Rockland but is someone they trust. Due diligence is on the homeowner to check out who they hire based on their reputation and not whether the county gave them a piece of paper. Allow the free market to work.