Plumbing board wins $2.1 million in supplemental funding, details move and testing expansion

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners said it received full funding of its base appropriation and $2,100,000 in additional appropriations, and staff outlined plans to move offices off its current leased space and expand licensure testing capacity across the state.

Board chair Frank Denton (speaking as the board’s legislative liaison) told the board they received "100% of our base budget" (about $4,000,000 a year) and described a supplemental package that includes funds for staff, testing centers and one-time move costs. He said the appropriation includes funding for seven new employees, two vehicles, $167,000 for IT improvements and $300,000 for expansion of a Harlingen testing center plus resources for a mobile testing unit. Denton said a $675,000 request for facility modifications and moving expenses was placed in a supplemental appropriation so the agency can access the money before the new biennium begins on Sept. 1.

The supplemental funds, Denton said, "ended up with $2,100,000 additional funds," and that the agency will be authorized to hire seven employees effective Sept. 1, when the new budget goes into effect. He added that money not immediately spent on positions will be placed in a pool for future employee hires.

Why it matters: The board licenses plumbers, journeymen and masters across Texas. Denton said the move and the testing expansions are intended to reduce exam backlogs and lower the turnaround time for licensing. He said increased testing capacity should help the board handle demand for the next 10–15 years if the agency executes its plans.

Details and timeline - Lease and move: The board’s lease on its current facility expires Aug. 31. Denton and Executive Director Lisa (last name not provided in the transcript) said they are coordinating with the Texas Facilities Commission and other agencies to prepare a vacated state-owned building for occupancy. Denton described early frustrations with scheduling and surplus equipment removal but said crews began vacating the facility after intervention by the governor’s office and facility leadership.

- Supplemental vs. biennium funds: Denton said the $675,000 that covers restroom and infrastructure work at the new building was placed in a supplemental budget so it can be spent before Sept. 1 rather than waiting for the biennial budget; he noted the money was appropriated on the final day of the legislative session.

- Moving plan and costs: Denton said private moving bids ran as high as $160,000. Instead, the agency arranged to use a Texas Department of Criminal Justice crew for approximately $1,000 a day for a truck, one supervisor and four workers; he estimated total moving costs would be under $100,000.

- Testing capacity: Denton said the Austin testing center’s planned renovation would add four testing sessions (from 12 to 16 test seats at a time). The board will continue to run sessions in Waco, and the Harlingen center will be built as a carbon copy of Waco. Denton said the mobile testing unit will provide additional, targeted sessions (he estimated roughly 4–5 sessions per mobile deployment, noting that exact needs were "not many").

- Staffing and operations: Executive Director Lisa reported current hiring needs including examiners and legal/administrative staff. The board emphasized hiring remains the agency’s biggest operational challenge. Denton and Lisa said some newly funded examiner positions will be reserved to staff Harlingen and mobile testing operations and may be hired later in the fiscal year.

- Rent savings and licensing fees: Denton noted moving to a state-owned building will eliminate roughly $30,000 per month in rent (about $360,000 per year), which the board said should help keep licensing fees down. He said about 80% of the agency’s revenue comes from licensing fees.

Operational risks and next steps Staff cautioned the move will cause temporary disruption: Denton warned the Austin testing center would shut down for part of July or August and that Waco and other centers would need to absorb testing demand during the transition. The Facilities Commission and a fire marshal inspection remain dependencies for on-time occupancy. Denton and Lisa said they are staging the boardroom and administrative spaces first to continue licensing operations, and they will run contingency phone and remote operations if direct lines are affected.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the appropriations and facilities discussion portion of the meeting and include board leaders and agency staff. The board plans to begin hiring funded positions Sept. 1 and to continue communicating scheduling changes to candidates and licensees.

Ending note: Staff asked license applicants and employers to use midweek testing slots where available during the transition and to ensure apprentices and applicants complete fingerprinting and applications early to avoid processing delays.