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Committee approves bill to expand local electrical inspector qualifications, adds mandatory training
Summary
Lawmakers voted to let cities and counties hire journeyman electricians or certified fire-service inspectors as local electrical inspectors, contingent on a state-mandated two-day training course; the measure passed unanimously as amended.
Representative R.J. Hawk presented Senate Bill 445 and an amendment that narrows and clarifies who may serve as a municipal or county electrical inspector. Hawk said the change was driven by workforce shortages: master electricians often command private-sector wages that municipalities cannot match, leaving some cities without dedicated electrical inspectors.
"If anybody knows the construction world right now, you know that if you're a master electrician, you're not going to go to a city and make $35,000 or $40,000," Hawk said. The amendment replaced a strict master-electrician requirement with multiple qualifying pathways: a licensed journeyman electrician, graduates of relevant fire-service accreditation inspector courses, or other relevant credentialing, plus an explicit requirement that new hires complete the Department of Labor and Licensing's two-day electrical-inspector training before conducting inspections.
John Parton, director of community development for the city of Benton, supported the change and told the committee his city spent 14–16 months trying to fill an electrical-inspector vacancy. He said the bill provides necessary staffing flexibility while preserving public safety through the training requirement.
The committee passed the bill as amended. The chair announced, "The ayes have it. Congratulations. You passed your bill as amended." City officials and public-safety advocates said the measure should speed hiring and reduce instances where plumbing inspectors or other staff perform electrical inspections without specialized training.
