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Georgia House approves package to change professional licensing rules for engineers and contractors
Summary
The House passed a rules committee substitute that combines Senate Bill 125 with related House measures to let engineering graduates sit for the PE exam before completing a four‑year internship and to add continuing‑education tracking and regulatory cleanup for several contractor trades.
Representative Lauren McDonald presented Senate Bill 125 and related measures to the House, saying the package “decoupl[es] the sequential order of the internship hours and the PE exam.” The rules committee substitute combines SB 125 with House Bill 34 and HB 187; the substitute was adopted and the combined bill passed the House on a recorded vote of 104 yeas and 61 nays.
Why it matters: Supporters said the change will let recent engineering graduates take the professional engineering (PE) exam while they are still in “test‑taking mode,” while preserving the requirement that graduates complete a four‑year internship before becoming licensed. The bill also would require a continuing education tracking system for certain licenses and make regulatory cleanup for electrical, conditioned‑air, low‑voltage and utility contractors.
What the House heard: Representative Lauren McDonald, the bill’s floor presenter, said the bill “will allow engineers to take the p exam immediately after earning their degree while still requiring them to complete the 4 year internship before becoming licensed.” Representative Al Williams asked whether the bill “in no way compromises the competency of engineers,” and McDonald replied, “No, sir. Not at all.” Representative Gabe Ecoye, who identified himself as a registered engineer, said he would vote against SB 125 because he was “concerned… it might cause unqualified people to design the bridges you’re going to drive through.” McDonald responded that the bill does not change the academic test and said the intent is to increase pass rates by allowing graduates to sit closer to their studies.
Implementation and timeline: House Bill 34 in the package would create a continuing‑education tracking system to be implemented by the Secretary of State by Jan. 1, 2026, according to McDonald’s floor remarks. Supporters told the House that industry organizations participated in drafting the language and expressed support.
Vote and formal action: The House adopted the Rules Committee substitute and agreed to the committee report; on final passage the clerk announced 104 yeas and 61 nays. The measure will proceed to the Senate (committee referral and earlier Senate action are noted in the floor caption).
Ending: Sponsors said the package is intended to reduce licensing delays and regulatory friction for contractors and engineers while preserving licensing requirements and professional standards.
