Electricians and contractors back bill to limit who may demand licenses on job sites

Representative Mike Vinton presented House Bill 206 as a modest, safety‑focused change to job‑site liability and license‑check rules. He said the measure narrows the group of people allowed to request license presentation to those professionally responsible for the job site as well as inspectors, and expands the role of local inspectors.

Multiple electricians and contractors testified in support, telling the committee the current 30‑year‑old statute allows unauthorized persons — including union members or recruiters — to enter job sites and demand license checks as a tactic that can harass workers, interrupt critical work and create safety risks. "I personally faced harassment and frivolous complaints," owner Derek Hedalen testified, describing administrative costs and disrupted projects.

Opponents from the Montana AFL‑CIO and union representatives expressed concern that narrowing access could hamper detection of unlicensed practice; they said an amendment that allows electricians working on the same site to ask for each other’s licenses is necessary for worker safety. DLI Bureau Chief Eric Copeland provided counts of state and local inspectors and explained how inspections are currently handled; committee members pressed DLI and the sponsor on emergency situations and disaster response where out‑of‑state crews arrive.

Sponsor Vinton said the bill is intended to protect job‑site safety and property rights without removing inspectors’ authority. The committee did not take immediate action.