Senate EDA hears sharp opposition to proposal carving out IT, electronics from professional-engineer rules

A Senate committee hearing on House Bill 435 on Wednesday drew lengthy testimony from licensed engineers and trade groups who said the bill’s broad carve-out could undermine public safety and create legal uncertainty.

Representative Carol Maguire, cosponsor and chair of House EDA in the House, introduced the bill as a clarification that “software engineering … does not necessarily require a professional engineer’s seal” in many applications and that the statute should not treat software the same as traditional licensed engineering work. “This exempts from the definition of professional engineer… basically software engineering, which is not covered by the exams for professional engineer,” Maguire said.

Supporters framed HB 435 as a housekeeping change to reflect modern practice. “The software itself does not necessarily require a professional…