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MontanaHB 49769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise apprenticeship program laws relating to the state electrical board

Sponsored By: Jennifer Lynch (Democrat)

Became Law

Labor and Employment

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

More paths to journeyman and residential electrician licenses

The law adds clear paths to journeyman and residential electrician licenses. Journeyman: qualify by completing an approved apprenticeship or union/trade training, or by 8,000 hours of legal wiring work, or by 20,000 maintenance hours with at least 8,000 practical hours plus a written employer certification. Residential: qualify by finishing an approved residential apprenticeship or union/trade training, or by 4,000 hours of legal residential wiring (in homes with fewer than five units), or by 20,000 maintenance hours with at least 8,000 practical hours plus a written employer certification. The journeyman exam has at least 60 questions; the residential exam has at least 50. Both test the National Electrical Code, board rules, and state law. These changes take effect on passage and approval.

What experience counts for electrician licenses

The law explains what electrical maintenance work counts toward a license. It covers ordinary plant or onsite work and kind-for-kind fixes like replacing ballasts, relamping, motor control troubleshooting, and swapping motors, breakers, or magnetic starters. It also counts connecting certain equipment directly to an existing branch circuit panel with factory-installed leads. It does not count installing a new circuit or work that needs bigger supply conductors. Only experience done under the laws where it happened counts, and time from an apprenticeship you did not finish does not count.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jennifer Lynch

    Democrat • House

Cosponsors

  • Derek Harvey

    Democrat • Senate

  • Jacinda Morigeau

    Democrat • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 288 • No: 3

House vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 48 • No: 0

House vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 48 • No: 0

House vote • 3/3/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 95 • No: 3

House vote • 3/1/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 97 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/8/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/5/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/25/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    4/25/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    4/24/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/16/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/11/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Concurred

    4/11/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading Concurred

    4/10/2025Senate

  10. Committee Report--Bill Concurred

    3/25/2025Senate

  11. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

    3/25/2025Senate

  12. Hearing

    3/19/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Committee

    3/4/2025Senate

  14. First Reading

    3/4/2025Senate

  15. Transmitted to Senate

    3/3/2025House

  16. 3rd Reading Passed

    3/3/2025House

  17. 2nd Reading Passed

    3/1/2025House

  18. Committee Report--Bill Passed

    2/26/2025House

  19. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed

    2/26/2025House

  20. Hearing

    2/24/2025House

  21. Fiscal Note Printed

    2/22/2025House

  22. Fiscal Note Signed

    2/21/2025House

  23. Hearing

    2/21/2025House

  24. Fiscal Note Received

    2/20/2025House

  25. First Reading

    2/14/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/14/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/13/2025

    PDF

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