LouisianaContractor board takes over Louisiana plumbing oversight in 2027
Starting January 1, 2027, the contractor licensing board takes over plumbing oversight, existing plumber licenses transfer, and people doing plumbing work must hold a license.
What it does
The State Licensing Board for Contractors takes over plumbing oversight, while a new plumbing subcommittee handles licensing and enforcement with the board's approval.
People doing plumbing work, including contractor employees, must hold the right plumber license. The law sets work-hour and exam steps for journeyman and master licenses and limits apprentice supervision.
People holding a State Plumbing Board license by December 31, 2026, receive the equivalent license under the contractor board.
The plumbing subcommittee must survey efforts to recruit minority students into plumbing and report license numbers, demographics, and possible recruitment and grant methods.
Argument forPutting plumbing oversight under one contractor board could make it clearer which agency handles licenses, rules, and enforcement.
Argument againstPlumbers may face demanding license steps, including verified work hours and exams, while apprentices must work under a qualified supervisor.
More detail
The State Licensing Board for Contractors takes over the State Plumbing Board's duties, including licensing plumbers and plumbing contractors. The transfer includes pending business, employees, records, property, funds, and obligations of the State Plumbing Board. The plumbing subcommittee's rulemaking, licensing, and enforcement powers require approval by the contractor board. The transfer takes effect January 1, 2027.
People doing plumbing work must hold the appropriate plumber license, and the law sets license steps and supervision rules. The license requirement covers anyone doing plumbing work, including employees of plumbing contractors. Apprentices must register and confirm their plumbing employment twice a year. Journeyman applicants need 2,500 verified apprentice work hours and written and practical exams; master applicants need a journeyman license, 1,000 verified journeyman work hours, and a written exam. Apprentices must work under a journeyman or master plumber. A journeyman plumber may supervise no more than three apprentices. These provisions take effect January 1, 2027.
Existing State Plumbing Board plumber licenses become equivalent licenses under the contractor board. It applies to people licensed in Louisiana by the State Plumbing Board on or before December 31, 2026. This covers apprentice, journeyman, and master plumber licenses issued by the State Plumbing Board. The equivalent license takes effect January 1, 2027.
The plumbing subcommittee must survey efforts to recruit minority students into plumbing and report its findings. The report goes to the House and Senate commerce committees and concerns efforts to encourage minority participation in plumbing. The subcommittee must work with education and vocational groups. The report must cover plumber license counts, licensee demographics, and possible ways to increase minority participation, including recruitment and education grants. The report is due by April 12, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 12Signed by the Governor Jeff Landry. Becomes Act No. 908.Became Law
- Jun 12Effective date: See Act.
- Jun 4Sent to the Governor for executive approval.To Governor
- Jun 1House conferees appointed: Fontenot, Deshotel, and Jacob Landry.
- Vote recorded ADOPT CONFERENCE REPORT (#1854). Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded ADOPT (#1651). Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 1Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
- Jun 1The Senate recommitted the report to the Conference Committee.
- Jun 1Conference Committee report received.
- Jun 1Rules suspended.
- Jun 1Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 96, nays 2. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.
- Jun 1Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.
- Jun 1Notice Senate recommitted the report to the Conference Committee.
- Jun 1Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 22 yeas and 14 nays.
- Jun 1Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.
- Jun 1Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.Minor
- Jun 1Signed by the President of the Senate on 6/2/2026.
- May 31Discharged from Conference Committee.
- May 31Notice the House discharged the Conference Committee.
- May 31The House recommitted the bill to Conference Committee.
- May 31Notice Senate discharged the Conference Committee.
- May 31Notice House recommitted the report to the Conference Committee.
- May 29Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.
- Vote recorded ADOPT CONFERENCE REPORT (#1761). Result: pass.Lower
- May 29Rules suspended.
- May 29Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 94, nays 3. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.
- May 29Conference committee report received.
- May 29Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.
- May 27House conferees appointed: Fontenot, Deshotel, and Jacob Landry.
- May 27Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
- May 26Read 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.
- Vote recorded REJECT SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1474). Result: pass.Lower
- May 26Notice House rejected the Senate amendments.
- May 26Senate conference committee members appointed: Abraham, Mizell, and Price.
- May 26Notice of Senate conferees appointed.
- May 25Scheduled for concurrence on 05/26/2026.
- May 19Received from the Senate with amendments.Minor
- May 18Rules 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.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#948). Result: pass.Upper
- May 11Reported with Legislative Bureau amendments which were read and adopted. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 7Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 6Reported with amendments.Minor
- Apr 14Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs.Minor
- Apr 13Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- Apr 9Called from the calendar.
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#421). Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 83, nays 4. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Apr 8Called from the calendar.
- Apr 8Read by title, returned to the calendar.
- Apr 8Notice given.
- Apr 8Scheduled for floor debate on 04/09/2026.
- Mar 26Read by title, returned to the calendar.
- Mar 26Notice given.
- Mar 26Scheduled for floor debate on 04/08/2026.
- Mar 25Scheduled for floor debate on 03/26/2026.
- Mar 24Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- Mar 23Reported with amendments (14-0).Minor
- Mar 9Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Commerce.Minor
- Feb 27Prefiled.Minor
- Feb 27Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Commerce.Minor
- Feb 27First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.Introduced
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