Bill would let electricians from reciprocal states qualify as electrical inspectors

For the record, Jim Morishima, staff to the committee, told the Labor & Workplace Standards Committee that Substitute Senate Bill 5,265 would expand who may serve as an electrical inspector by allowing certain out-of-state journey-level experience to count toward Washington qualifications.

Senator Curtis King (14th Legislative District), prime sponsor, said the measure is a modest, practical step to address past shortages of electrical inspectors in cities and counties. "This bill would just allow those inspectors that are in Oregon...to come and work in Washington and not have to go through all of the qualifications," King said.

Supporters said the change would enlarge the hiring pool for local inspection programs and ease pressure on permit processing. Matthew Huebner, executive director of the Certified Electrical Workers of Washington, said the bill "doubl[es] the pool of candidates" by recognizing reciprocal licensure and urged passage. Shree Kiranathari of the City of Vancouver said cross-border workforce flows mean reciprocal recognition could help the city hire inspectors quickly and complete inspections tied to housing projects.

The staff analysis noted that a person could qualify by holding a journey-level electrician certificate issued by LNI and eight years of experience installing electrical wiring and equipment, including four years at the journey level in a reciprocal state. The analysis cited Oregon as the only state currently listed as having a reciprocal licensing agreement with Washington.

No formal action or vote was taken during the hearing. Committee members heard testimony from labor and municipal representatives urging support and noted the bill had been narrowed from earlier drafts to take incremental steps.

The committee closed the hearing on SB 5,265 without a recorded vote and moved on to other bills on the agenda.