SB 279 Alabama Senate · 2026 Regular Session

General Contractor Licensing Board; practice of general contracting, exemption expanded

SB 279 expands Alabama's general contractor licensing exemptions to include specific maintenance services. It adds painting, janitorial, floor waxing, pressure washing, security system maintenance, lighting/filter replacement, and maintenance of existing plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems to the list of services that do not require a general contractor license. This change directly affects small businesses and contractors providing these routine maintenance services, allowing them to operate without obtaining a general contractor license. The bill amends Alabama Code Section 34-8-7 to include these new exemptions, effective October 1, 2026.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 10, 2026 Signed Apr 9, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 4 edits · Apr 9, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates the Alabama General Contracting Law to clarify exemptions for property owners building on their own land and to expand exemptions for utility work. It also adds specific requirements for subcontractors regarding how they must provide references during the licensing process.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of exemptions by explicitly including property owners constructing improvements on their own property, whereas the previous version was ambiguous on this point. It also clarifies the definition of 'emergency' work for utilities and adds a new category for routine maintenance of existing systems.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that property owners constructing buildings or improvements on their own property are exempt from general contracting requirements, provided any outsourced work complies with the law.

Expanded exemptions for utilities to include routine, regular, or recurring maintenance of electric power, natural gas, and telecommunications systems, not just emergency work.

Added a new exemption for routine maintenance, repair, or removal of existing security, lighting, plumbing, air conditioning, electrical, and paint systems.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the reference requirements for subcontractors to include specific details about past contracts (amounts, time periods, locations) if the subcontractor has only worked for one company.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1173

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Commerce and Small Business)

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 614

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Chambliss motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 613

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Introduced

Chambliss 1st Amendment Offered

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (County and Municipal Government)

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors