Committee approves welding-safety bill after sponsors cite school collapse linked to improper welds
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Summary
Senate Bill 98, advanced by the Licensing and Occupations Committee on Feb. 10, would require adherence to welding specifications and industry certification on projects where the design calls for specific welds; sponsors cited a McCracken County incident and American Welding Society standards.
The Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee on Feb. 10 voted to report Senate Bill 98 favorably to the full Senate, endorsing a measure sponsors described as ensuring welds meet the certifications required by project designs.
Sen. Philip Wheeler (31st Senate District) told the committee the bill is intended to make sure construction follows the architect and engineer specifications. Wheeler cited an incident in McCracken County in which improper weld certification contributed to the collapse of a school building, saying "thankfully, no one was injured," and arguing that adherence to American Welding Society standards protects public safety.
Representative Bobby McCrow, who taught welding for decades and has carried similar measures in the House, told members technical training and inspection matter for public safety. Mark Wilson, representing the Associated Builders and Contractors, urged the panel to require that welding follow specified designs and certifications to avoid liability and protect the public.
A motion to advance SB 98 passed on a roll call vote of 9 to 2. Committee supporters said the bill is narrow in scope — requiring compliance where designs specify certified welds — and aimed at preventing costly structural failures. Opponents recorded two 'no' votes; the transcript shows those dissenting votes but did not reflect formal amendments.
The measure will now be transmitted to the full Senate for further consideration.