PLUMBERS: Provides relative to plumbing licenses
HB 953 amends Louisiana's plumbing licensing laws to update requirements for plumbers and related professionals. It establishes clear license tiers (residential, journeyman, master), requires a state registry for apprentice plumbers, and creates a new "water supply protection specialist" endorsement. The bill prevents local authorities from administering plumbing exams (preempting local exams), while allowing them to collect jurisdiction-specific fees. These changes directly affect plumbers seeking licensure, plumbing businesses employing licensed workers, and apprentices needing supervised training.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Jun 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 27, 2026
Signed Jun 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB953 Original
→
HB953 Act 908
·
7 edits
MODERATE
This bill transfers authority over plumbing licenses from the State Plumbing Board to the State Licensing Board for Contractors, effectively abolishing the former board. It updates the legal definitions of plumbing roles and establishes new project value thresholds that determine when a license is required, including specific rules for mold remediation and residential improvements.
Scope change
The bill significantly expands the scope of the State Licensing Board for Contractors by adding plumbing licensure to its jurisdiction and removes the separate State Plumbing Board from the regulatory structure.
REQUIREMENT
The State Plumbing Board is abolished, and its powers, duties, and assets are transferred to the State Licensing Board for Contractors.
A new requirement is added for mold remediation projects valued at $7,500 or more, which now require a licensed contractor.
The threshold for requiring a license on residential improvements or repairs was lowered from $10,000 to $7,500.
DEFINITION
The definition of 'Contractor' is expanded to include anyone performing construction or plumbing work on projects valued at $50,000 or more for commercial use, or $7,500 or more for residential use.
New definitions are added for 'Apprentice gas fitter' and 'Apprentice plumber license,' specifying that apprentices must work under direct supervision and be part of an approved program.
The term 'Commercial' is explicitly defined to exclude residential structures with no more than two separate dwelling units.
TIMELINE
The requirement to register apprentice plumbers was updated from a 2017 deadline to a current requirement.
Floor votes · Senate May 18, 2026 · House Apr 9, 2026
How they voted
35–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 40
May 18, 2026
D
Democratic12
75% Yea
R
Republican28
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
55
Key actions
19
Committee
24
Jun 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.
lower
Jun 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 22 yeas and 14 nays.
upper
Jun 1, 2026
Committee
Notice Senate recommitted the report to the Conference Committee.
lower
Jun 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.
upper
Jun 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 96, nays 2. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.
lower
Jun 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee report received.
lower
Jun 1, 2026
Committee
The Senate recommitted the report to the Conference Committee.
upper
Jun 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
upper
May 31, 2026
Committee
Notice House recommitted the report to the Conference Committee.
upper
May 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Notice Senate discharged the Conference Committee.
lower
May 31, 2026
Committee
The House recommitted the bill to Conference Committee.
lower
May 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
Notice the House discharged the Conference Committee.
upper
May 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Discharged from Conference Committee.
lower
May 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.
upper
May 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference committee report received.
upper
May 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 94, nays 3. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.
lower
May 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.
lower
May 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
upper
May 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate conference committee members appointed: Abraham, Mizell, and Price.
upper
May 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
May 7, 2026
Committee
Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 83, nays 4. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (14-0).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Commerce.
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Commerce.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Bryan Fontenot
RRepublican
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