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GeorgiaHB 6352025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors; revise provisions

Sponsored By: Rob Clifton (Republican), Lehman Franklin (Republican), Spencer Frye (Democrat), Holt Persinger (Republican), Matt Reeves (Republican), Marcus Wiedower (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Regulated IndustriesRegulated Industries and UtilitiesGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Easier licensing for basic residential contractors

Georgia residential-basic applicants need at least two years working for a licensed residential-basic contractor, or substantially similar experience. An employer or another person who knows the work must verify it in a sworn statement. Applicants no longer need major responsibility for two completed projects in the past two years. They must still be at least 21 and meet character, skill, integrity, and financial responsibility requirements.

Easier licensing for commercial general contractors

Georgia commercial general contractor applicants can qualify with an accepted bachelor's degree, without an extra year of experience. Another route combines relevant accredited college credits and practical experience totaling at least four years. The work-only route requires four years, including two as or with a commercial general contractor. It also requires at least one year in an accepted business function, such as estimating, accounting, supervision, or project management. Applicants must be at least 21, verify experience through sworn statements, and meet character, skill, integrity, and financial responsibility requirements.

Easier licensing for light commercial contractors

Georgia residential-light commercial applicants can qualify with an accepted bachelor's degree, without an extra year of experience. Another route combines relevant accredited college credits and practical experience totaling at least four years. The work-only route requires four years, including two as or with a residential contractor, unless the division accepts other experience. The law removes the requirement for major responsibility on two completed projects in the past four years. Applicants must be at least 21, verify experience through sworn statements, and meet character, skill, integrity, and financial responsibility requirements.

Contractors face penalties for license sharing

Georgia contractors face discipline for knowingly letting an unlicensed person or unauthorized business use their license. The licensing board can deny or revoke a license, or impose other discipline. The board must make the finding by majority vote.

More flexibility for contractor licensing exams

Georgia contractor applicants can take exams before establishing character, skill, integrity, and financial responsibility; these remain required before license issuance. Otherwise qualified applicants who fail can retake the exam at any regularly scheduled session. A new application is needed only when earlier information is no longer accurate or complete. The law removes the one-year retake window and the waiting period after a fourth or later attempt. It also removes the specified reexamination-fee requirement, but does not eliminate all other fees.

Contractor tax checks shift to businesses

For Georgia commercial general contractor applications, a qualifying agent is the individual applying on a business's behalf. Required tax-payment verification now concerns that business rather than the individual applicant. The business's tax information must be provided instead of the agent's personal tax information. This change does not create a new tax.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Rob Clifton

    Republican • House

  • Lehman Franklin

    Republican • House

  • Spencer Frye

    Democrat • House

  • Holt Persinger

    Republican • House

  • Matt Reeves

    Republican • House

  • Marcus Wiedower

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Larry Walker

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 224 • No: 3

Senate vote • 4/2/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 53 • No: 1 • Other: 1

House vote • 3/6/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 171 • No: 2 • Other: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2025

  2. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/9/2025House

  3. Act 91

    5/9/2025

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/10/2025House

  5. Senate Tabled

    4/2/2025Senate

  6. Senate Taken from Table

    4/2/2025Senate

  7. Senate Third Read

    4/2/2025Senate

  8. Senate Passed/Adopted

    4/2/2025Senate

  9. Senate Read Second Time

    3/25/2025Senate

  10. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    3/21/2025Senate

  11. Senate Read and Referred

    3/10/2025Senate

  12. House Third Readers

    3/6/2025House

  13. House Passed/Adopted

    3/6/2025House

  14. House Committee Favorably Reported

    3/4/2025House

  15. House Second Readers

    2/28/2025House

  16. House First Readers

    2/27/2025House

  17. House Hopper

    2/26/2025House

Bill Text

  • HB 635/AP* (v3)

    PDF

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