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LouisianaHB 9532026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

PLUMBERS: Provides relative to plumbing licenses

Sponsored By: Bryan Fontenot (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Commerce, Consumer Protection and International AffairsCommerce

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

11 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 5 costs, 3 mixed.

Plumbers face training and exam requirements

People doing plumbing work need the appropriate plumber’s license, including employees working for plumbing contractors. Apprentices must register, verify employment every six months, and join a board-approved apprenticeship with direct journeyman or master supervision. Journeyman applicants need 2,500 verified apprentice-work hours and must pass written and hands-on tests. Journeymen must have an employer and work under a master plumber’s supervision. Master applicants need a journeyman license, 1,000 verified journeyman-work hours, and a written exam; masters must qualify to plan systems and supervise journeymen.

Broader licensing rules for plumbing businesses

Businesses advertising, soliciting, offering, bidding on, attempting, or doing plumbing work need the contractor license and classification matching that work. The broader definition replaces one limited to certain water or sewer projects worth $10,000 or more. Master plumbing contractors may contract for work on any structure and need a licensed master plumber as their qualifying party. Residential plumbing contractors may contract only for residences no more than three floors high that another person will occupy. Their qualifying party may be a licensed journeyman or master plumber.

Current plumbers keep licenses during transfer

Beginning January 1, 2027, plumbing licensing moves from the State Plumbing Board to the State Licensing Board for Contractors. Apprentice, journeyman, and master licenses held by December 31, 2026 count as matching licenses under the new system. These plumbers do not need to qualify again under this transition rule. The law replaces the former plumbing-license chapter and transfers the old board’s staff, records, funds, obligations, and unfinished business.

Plumbers face limits on supervising apprentices

Plumbers must hold an active license to perform plumbing work or act as a plumber. Apprentices must work under a journeyman or master plumber, and each journeyman may supervise no more than three apprentices. A journeyman supervising another journeyman must be an employee or qualifying party of a residential plumbing contractor. A master supervising a journeyman must be an employee or qualifying party of a master plumbing contractor.

Higher licensing charges for nonresident applicants

The board can charge applicants or licensees not domiciled in Louisiana an extra contractor or plumber licensing charge. The charge applies when applying for or receiving a license and cannot exceed $400. It covers added application-investigation costs. The law authorizes the charge but does not require a set amount.

Unlicensed plumbing brings penalties and bans

Offering, bidding on, attempting, or undertaking plumbing work without the required contractor license violates contractor law. The subcommittee can impose discipline, stop-work orders, fines, or bans from contracting. After notice and a hearing, civil penalties can reach 10% of the contract or work value, plus administrative costs and attorney fees. Payment is due within 90 days unless the law provides otherwise; nonpayment can block license issuance or renewal and trigger collection. A violator who ignores a cease-work notice after a proper hearing can be barred from applying for a plumber’s license for up to one year from the official notice.

Licensing pathways for out-of-state plumbers

The plumbing subcommittee can set licensing and temporary-work-permit rules for applicants with equivalent out-of-state plumbing licenses or experience. These pathways cover apprentice, journeyman, and master plumbers seeking work in Louisiana. The subcommittee may impose extra requirements and fees. Applicable rules must follow the Welcome Home Act.

Plumbers face oversight with training safeguards

With contractor-board approval, the plumbing subcommittee can set licensing rules and continuing-education policies, and issue, suspend, or revoke licenses. It can act on alleged violations without a formal complaint. The contractor board monitors plumbing projects for licensing compliance. The subcommittee cannot approve continuing-education courses or written training programs provided by its members or entities they control.

Plumbing contractors avoid extra renewal fee

Plumbing contractors are exempt from the extra $100 annual contractor-license renewal fee that supports public construction-education programs. An eligible plumbing contractor avoids that charge for each applicable renewal year. This exemption does not eliminate other licensing or renewal fees.

Plumbers gain seats on licensing bodies

The contractor board gains two active licensed plumbers, each chosen from a three-name list supplied by a plumbing trade association. These two appointees are exempt from the board’s five-year responsible-contractor experience requirement. The governor also appoints an 11-member plumbing subcommittee with industry and at-large seats. Its members must be Louisiana residents with five years of plumbing or contracting experience, and every state education-board district must be represented. After staggered initial terms, members serve six-year terms, limited to two consecutive terms. Subcommittee members receive $75 per meeting attended plus necessary travel costs; the board also pays these expenses for ex officio members.

Gas-fitting rules include specific work exclusions

Gas fitting covers installing, repairing, improving, altering, or removing natural gas pipes, fittings, valves, or tanks supplying appliances. The definition excludes specified utility-system work by entities regulated by the Public Service Commission, New Orleans City Council, or state pipeline-safety office. Work by people licensed by the Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission is also excluded. Connections, disconnections, and reconnections between an appliance shutoff valve’s outlet and the appliance inlet are excluded.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Bryan Fontenot

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 442 • No: 23

House vote • 6/1/2026

Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 96, nays 2. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.

Yes: 96 • No: 2

Senate vote • 6/1/2026

Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 22 yeas and 14 nays.

Yes: 22 • No: 14

House vote • 5/29/2026

Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 94, nays 3. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.

Yes: 94 • No: 3

House vote • 5/26/2026

Read by title, roll called, yeas 99, nays 0. The Senate amendments, not having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, were rejected. Conference committee appointment pending.

Yes: 99 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/18/2026

Rules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 34 • No: 0

House vote • 4/9/2026

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 83, nays 4. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 83 • No: 4

House vote • 3/23/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 908.

    6/12/2026House

  2. Effective date: See Act.

    6/12/2026House

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    6/4/2026House

  4. House conferees appointed: Fontenot, Deshotel, and Jacob Landry.

    6/1/2026House

  5. Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.

    6/1/2026Senate

  6. The Senate recommitted the report to the Conference Committee.

    6/1/2026Senate

  7. Conference Committee report received.

    6/1/2026House

  8. Rules suspended.

    6/1/2026House

  9. Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 96, nays 2. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.

    6/1/2026House

  10. Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.

    6/1/2026Senate

  11. Notice Senate recommitted the report to the Conference Committee.

    6/1/2026House

  12. Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 22 yeas and 14 nays.

    6/1/2026Senate

  13. Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.

    6/1/2026House

  14. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

    6/1/2026House

  15. Signed by the President of the Senate on 6/2/2026.

    6/1/2026Senate

  16. Discharged from Conference Committee.

    5/31/2026House

  17. Notice the House discharged the Conference Committee.

    5/31/2026Senate

  18. The House recommitted the bill to Conference Committee.

    5/31/2026House

  19. Notice Senate discharged the Conference Committee.

    5/31/2026House

  20. Notice House recommitted the report to the Conference Committee.

    5/31/2026Senate

  21. Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.

    5/29/2026House

  22. Rules suspended.

    5/29/2026House

  23. Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 94, nays 3. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.

    5/29/2026House

  24. Conference committee report received.

    5/29/2026Senate

  25. Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.

    5/29/2026Senate

Bill Text

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