House Business Committee advances bill to issue journeyman licenses to master electricians

Representative Josh Wheeler, sponsor of House Bill 153, told the House Business Committee on Feb. 19 that the measure would allow licensed master electricians to be issued journeyman electrician credentials without a separate application or fee increase. "This legislation was actually brought to my attention by a couple constituents who are licensed master electricians," Wheeler said. "It matters more when they're trying to reciprocate with other states."

The bill aims to reduce what Wheeler described as "bureaucratic redundancy" by granting journeyman status where a master license already exists, easing reciprocity when electricians move between states. Wheeler said industry members called the draft "the most common sense bill ever seen." He told the committee the division that issues licenses told him the dual credential could be produced within existing staff and fee structures and that the fee would remain essentially the same as the current master license fee.

Committee members asked whether the change would create new administrative costs or shift expenses to taxpayers. Representative Harris asked who would pay to reissue or produce a new credential card. Wheeler said the licensing division told him it could implement the change under existing FTEs and administrative funds and that the fee schedule in the bill mirrors current master license fees.

There was no public testimony and no recorded roll-call vote. Representative Cornelis moved that the committee send House Bill 153 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the motion carried on a voice vote. The bill will next be considered by the full House.