Plumbers' apprenticeship bill laid over after contractor testimony; committee asks Construction Industries Board for amendments

Chairman Sneed presented HB 3,783 to the Business & Commerce Committee as an "endorsed plumbers' apprentice bill" intended to let trade-school graduates sit for licensing exams sooner while preserving on-the-job requirements.

The committee heard testimony from Jamie Mullen, a Tulsa plumbing contractor who identified himself as a long-time industry participant and vice chair of the Construction Industries Board. Mullen said the plumbing trade faces workforce shortages and a tight journeyman-to-contractor ratio, arguing the bill would create an additional pathway to convert apprentices into journeymen. "So at some point, we've gotta be able to convert those apprentices to journeyman plumbers," Mullen said.

Members pressed the sponsor on industry support. Chairman Sneed acknowledged opposition from union pipefitters and plumbers but said state staff had received suggested amendments from both supporters and opponents. He described amendment options under consideration: requiring trade-school programs to include a minimum number of instructional hours (committee discussion referenced a 1,000-hour baseline), retaining a one-year on-the-job requirement, and a draft provision that would set a 2,000-hour combined threshold and a $1,000 fine for apprentices found doing work beyond their qualifications (plus required retesting). Chairman Sneed told members staff and the Construction Industries Board would return proposed amendments, and he laid the bill over until those changes are available.

The committee did not vote on HB 3,783 during this session. Chairman Sneed instructed staff to work with the Construction Industries Board on drafting the amendments and to return the bill to committee when they are complete.