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Missouri committee hears bill to let municipal plumbing tests be recognized statewide
Summary
Rep. Bill Faulconer told the Local Government Committee HB 2394 would let journeyman and apprentice plumbing licenses earned via a municipality-approved test be honored across the state, aiming to ease labor mobility in metro areas; witnesses supported standardization while members questioned local-code differences and fee impacts.
Representative Bill Faulconer introduced House Bill 2,394 to the Missouri House Committee on Local Government, proposing that plumbing licenses earned by taking a municipality-administered test approved by the Division of Professional Registration be recognized statewide for journeymen and apprentices, while masters would still need to obtain a municipality business license.
Faulconer said the change would relieve workers who travel among many adjoining municipalities — especially in metro areas such as Kansas City and St. Louis — from having to take multiple local tests and would help contractors serve customers without delay. He described the measure as a reciprocity approach that preserves a municipality’s right to administer tests so long as the test is approved by the state licensing division.
Committee members asked detailed questions about consistency of tests and local building codes. Representative Walsh Moore noted some municipalities use the Uniform Plumbing Code or International codes while others administer local and hands-on exams, such as Saint Joseph’s practical test. Faulconer responded that recognition would apply only when a municipal test had state approval and would not override jurisdictions that do not require licenses.
Representative Hales recommended tightening the bill’s language so that visiting license-holders must "obtain" a business license in the other political subdivision rather than implying a municipality must automatically issue one; he also raised the potential loss of modest municipal revenue from local testing fees (sponsors estimated typical fees at $25–$50).
Arnie C. Deanoff, who identified himself as the state public advocate, testified in support, saying too much local variation in licensing and inspections burdens trades and consumers; he noted St. Louis County has about 90 municipalities and estimated roughly 3,000 incorporated localities statewide. David Klarich, speaking for the Kansas City Mechanical Contractors Association and the East of Missouri Mechanical Contractors Association for information purposes, urged careful work on standards because jurisdictions vary widely and recounted past, unsuccessful efforts to adopt a statewide mechanical contractors license.
No one registered opposition during the hearing. The committee took testimony, asked clarifying questions, and concluded the public hearing on HB 2394 with no formal vote recorded at that time.
