Committee clears bill allowing sign companies to make limited electrical connections without licensed electrician

The Senate Business and Labor Standing Committee voted unanimously to favorably recommend first substitute House Bill 28, which amends rules governing on‑premise sign installation.

Representative Carol Moss and Randy George of the Utah Sign Association testified that the bill restores longstanding industry practice by clarifying that sign installers may perform limited electrical work incidental to sign installation when wiring is extended no more than 10 feet from an existing outlet or disconnect and does not exceed 120 volts and 20 amps. Moss said the change responds to a recent enforcement action in Murray that generated a citation and a later rescission because the code language was unclear.

Randy George described standard industry safety practices: electricians typically bring primary power to a capped junction box within 10 feet of the sign location, installers then lock out and tag out the breaker before making a capped connection. Representative Moss said the bill was developed with the National Electrical Contractors Association and independent electrical contractors.

Senators questioned whether the bill properly limited work to common 120‑volt sign hookups and exempted higher‑voltage, multi‑phase jobs that require licensed electricians; witnesses said step‑down transformers and electricians are used for rare higher‑voltage cases. After committee discussion, Senator McKay moved to recommend the bill; the committee passed the motion unanimously.