HB887: HB887 Patriots in Trades Act; enact

Georgia law already lets current and former military members get certain contractor licenses quickly if their military training matches licensing requirements, but the law currently limits this to a handful of specific licenses like Electrical Contractor Class I, Journeyman Plumber, Conditioned Air Contractor Class I, and Utility Foreman, and requires applications within two years (or 180 days for general contractors) of discharge. This bill, called the Patriots in Trades Act, rewrites those rules. It extends the application window to four years after discharge for both electrical and light-commercial contracting licenses, and removes the limitation to specific license types so any license under these chapters can qualify. It also replaces the current committee-based process for identifying qualifying military specialties with a requirement that each division of the relevant licensing board determine, by January 1, 2026, which military training substantially meets Georgia's licensing standards. That list must be published on the Secretary of State's website and reviewed at least annually starting in 2027.

• Extends the deadline for veterans to apply for expedited contractor licenses from two years (or 180 days for general contractors) to four years after discharge.
• Removes the limitation restricting expedited military licensing to only a few specific license types, opening the process to any license under the affected chapters.
• Replaces the current multi-agency committee process with a requirement that each licensing board division identify qualifying military specialties on its own by January 1, 2026.
• Requires the list of qualifying military specialties and certifications to be published on the Secretary of State's public website.
• Requires licensing boards to review and update that list at least annually starting in calendar year 2027.
• Gives the short title 'Patriots in Trades Act' to the combined changes.

Current and former members of the U.S. armed forces, National Guard, and reserve components who seek licenses as electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low-voltage contractors, utility contractors, or residential and commercial general contractors, along with the state licensing boards and the Secretary of State's office that must compile and publish qualifying military specialties.

Veterans with relevant military training would have more time after leaving service to use that training toward a Georgia contractor license and could qualify for a wider range of license types than before, potentially easing their transition into skilled trades work in the state.

• Section 1 gives the Act its short title, the 'Patriots in Trades Act.'
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 43-14-15, requiring each division of the relevant licensing board to determine by January 1, 2026 which military specialties or certifications meet Georgia's training and testing requirements for electrical, plumbing, conditioned air, and utility contractor licenses.
• Section 2 extends the application deadline for veterans and current service members from two years to four years after discharge, with the board able to extend it further for individual hardship cases.
• Section 2 requires the qualifying specialty list to be published on the Secretary of State's website and reviewed at least annually beginning in 2027.
• Section 3 makes parallel changes to O.C.G.A. § 43-41-18 for residential and commercial general contractors, extending the application window from 180 days to four years after discharge.
• Section 3 removes the prior committee structure involving the Governor's Office of Workforce Development, shifting the determination of qualifying specialties directly to the licensing board.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-04-04House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-04-02House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-31House Hopper (House)

• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)Primary sponsor
• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)

• veterans
• occupational licensing
• contractor licenses
• military benefits
• skilled trades