Previously Published in The Messenger
By Raheem Soto
Earlier this week, the Suffolk County Legislature’s Labor and Consumer Affairs Committee advanced IR 1542-2025, a measure designed to close loopholes in regulating board-up businesses that operate at fire scenes. The bill, sponsored by Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) and co-sponsored by Legislators Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point), Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station), and Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), passed with bipartisan support and will now move to the full legislature for consideration.
Board-up companies rush to cover broken windows and doors with plywood after a fire. While the service can be useful, families often mistake these operators for government officials or insurance representatives. That false impression has been the opening that some businesses have used to pressure homeowners into signing costly contracts when they are least prepared to make financial decisions.
Suffolk first addressed the issue in 2015, but the original law left too many exceptions and weak enforcement. IR 1542-2025 eliminates those gaps. Under the new measure, companies must provide homeowners with a signed disclosure that clarifies that the business is private, not dispatched by government or insurers, and that services are strictly optional. Operators must also remain behind fire lines until cleared by police or fire officials and follow all commands from fire marshals and fire department personnel.
Legislator Thorne, who is both a lawmaker and a first responder, framed the purpose of the law in plain terms.
“As a first responder, I know firsthand how important it is for a reputable and licensed company to handle the work necessary after a fire that has destroyed a home or business,” Thorne told The Messenger. “My colleagues in the legislature have thankfully joined me in pushing this legislation to ensure that people who are in their most vulnerable moments are not taken advantage of by an ambulance chaser looking to make a quick dollar.”
The bill also strengthens penalties. Fines will range from $500 to $1,000 for a first offense, and $1,000 to $5,000 for repeat violations. Businesses that rack up multiple violations risk losing their registration for two years. Chronic violators may face misdemeanor charges, with penalties including fines up to $5,000 or up to a year in jail.
The enforcement authority has been made broad and clear. Summonses may be issued by the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Consumer Affairs; the Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services; the County Attorney; the District Attorney; fire marshals; or local code enforcement officers. By spreading responsibility across agencies, the county avoids the usual bureaucratic excuse of “not my department.”
The measure also requires licensed home improvement contractors who want to provide board-up services to pay a $200 fee at licensing or renewal. Lawmakers argue this is a modest trade-off: businesses face a small added cost, while families gain protection from predatory practices.
With committee approval secured, the bill heads next to the full Legislature. If adopted, Suffolk residents will see a simpler, tougher law designed not for those who look to profit from disaster, but for those trying to recover from one.