SB 553: Professions and Businesses; repeal Chapter 14, relating to electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low voltage contractors, and utility contractors and enact a new Chapter 14

Georgia currently regulates electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air (HVAC) contractors, low voltage contractors, and utility contractors under an existing chapter of state law. This bill repeals that entire chapter and replaces it with a new one. It creates the State Construction Industry Licensing Board, made up of 27 members split into five divisions, one for each trade, plus two public members with no industry ties. Each division sets its own exam standards, license classes (such as Electrical Contractor Class I and II, Master Plumber Class I and II, and four levels of low voltage contractor), and experience requirements for applicants. The bill spells out detailed licensing requirements, including years of full-time experience, required exams with a passing score of 70, background checks, and continuing education for renewal every two years. It sets civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation, criminal misdemeanor penalties up to $1,000 or six months in jail, and daily fines for violating cease and desist orders. It also creates a faster licensing path for military veterans and updates the definition of 'small business' in Georgia's tax code (O.C.G.A. § 48-7-38) for subcontractor deduction purposes.

• Repeals the existing Georgia law on electrical, plumbing, HVAC, low voltage, and utility contractor licensing and replaces it with an entirely new chapter.
• Creates the State Construction Industry Licensing Board with 27 members organized into five trade-specific divisions plus two public consumer representatives.
• Establishes new license classes and experience, exam, and background check requirements for each trade, including new low voltage contractor categories.
• Sets penalties including civil fines up to $10,000 per violation, misdemeanor charges up to $1,000 and six months jail, and daily fines for ignoring cease and desist orders.
• Creates an expedited licensing path for current and former military service members with relevant training or experience.
• Updates the definition of 'small business' used in Georgia's tax law for subcontractor payment deductions (O.C.G.A. § 48-7-38).

Electrical contractors, plumbers, HVAC (conditioned air) contractors, low voltage and telecommunications contractors, utility contractors, utility managers and foremen, license applicants including military veterans, county and municipal inspection authorities, homeowners and property owners who hire these tradespeople, and small businesses affected by the updated tax definition.

Georgians hiring electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, or utility and low voltage contractors would deal with a restructured licensing system with new classes, experience rules, and exams. Contractors face new board oversight, penalties, and continuing education rules, which could change who can legally perform this work and how disputes or violations are handled.

• Section 43-14-3 creates the 27-member State Construction Industry Licensing Board with five divisions covering electrical, plumbing, HVAC, low voltage, and utility contracting.
• Section 43-14-5 gives the board power to assess civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation after notice and hearing.
• Sections 43-14-8 through 43-14-14 set detailed licensing requirements, exam standards, and experience thresholds for each trade and license class.
• Section 43-14-17 sets misdemeanor penalties of up to $1,000 or six months imprisonment, plus daily fines of $1,500 or $5,000 depending on the trade for violating cease and desist orders.
• Section 43-14-21 creates an expedited licensing process for current or former military members who apply within two years of discharge.
• Section 43-14-23 allows reciprocal licensing for people already licensed in another state with substantially similar requirements.
• Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 48-7-38 to redefine 'small business' using tiered employee counts and gross receipts thresholds instead of referencing another code section.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 472
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-03-27Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2026-03-19House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-03-19House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-03-18House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)Primary sponsor
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Steven McNeel (R, SD-018)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-034)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2026

   52 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #642

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 19, 2026

   168 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 5 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #724

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   46 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 5 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #864

• contractor licensing
• electrical contractors
• plumbing regulation
• HVAC contractors
• construction industry board