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HB3214

Regular Session

Relating to eligibility for a master plumber license.

Moderate
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies

Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners

HB3214
Relating to eligibility for a master plumber license.
Moderate Urgency
Passed with Opposition
House Vote120 - 2
YEA
98% in favor122 voting
Senate Vote30 - 1
YEA
97% in favor31 voting
3
Total Opposition Votes
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
Texas State Board of Plumbing Ex...
Primary Author: Rep. Keresa Richardson
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Effective immediately due to supermajority vote).
  • Compliance Deadline: Immediate. Applications submitted on or after June 20, 2025, must be processed under the new 2-year standard.
  • Agency Rulemaking: The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) is required to adopt rules "as soon as practicable." Warning: A regulatory gray zone currently exists where statutory law permits the 2-year standard, but agency application forms and online portals likely still state the 4-year requirement.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit Personnel Files: Generate a report of all Journeyman Plumbers with 2+ years of experience; these are your immediate candidates for Master licensure.
  • Preempt Administrative Rejection: If submitting an application before TSBPE forms are updated, include a cover letter explicitly citing "HB3214, 89th Leg., R.S." to prevent intake staff from rejecting the application based on outdated checklists.
  • Update QC Protocols: A Master Plumber with 2 years of experience has 50% less field tenure than previously required. Strengthen internal Quality Control (QC) checks to compensate for this reduction in mandatory experience.
  • Resubmit Rejected Applications: If you had an applicant rejected prior to June 20, 2025, for lack of experience (e.g., they had 3 years), resubmit the application immediately.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Subcontractor MSAs: Review Master Service Agreements immediately. If your standard contracts define a "qualified Master Plumber" as having 4+ or 5+ years of experience, you will inadvertently disqualify validly licensed subcontractors under the new law. Update definitions to align with statutory minimums unless you specifically intend to enforce a higher standard than the state.
  • Employment Agreements: Audit training repayment and non-compete agreements. Employees you anticipated retaining for four years as Journeymen are now eligible to leave and compete as Masters after two years. Ensure clawback provisions for apprenticeship costs are enforceable against this accelerated timeline.

Hiring/Training

  • Retention Risk: Identify all Journeymen on your payroll with 24 to 48 months of experience. They are now immediately eligible for Master licensure and represent a flight risk. Adjust compensation or offer clear pathways to Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) roles to retain them.
  • Supervision Ratios: You may now promote internal staff to Master status faster, allowing for an increase in the number of simultaneous job sites under your license umbrella.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Experience Verification: When signing Employer Certification Forms for applicants, you are now certifying two years of experience for the standard track.
  • Training Documentation: For applicants utilizing the new "1-year + training" eligibility track, you must obtain and file certified transcripts from a US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship program or a Board-accepted equivalent before signing their application.

Fees & Costs

  • Insurance Premiums: Consult your carrier regarding Professional Liability policies. Promoting a Master Plumber with only two years of Journeyman experience to a Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) position may trigger premium adjustments or coverage exclusions based on experience thresholds.
  • No State Fee Changes: The bill does not alter licensure fees, only eligibility criteria.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

"Accepted by the Board" Training Programs:

Section 1(B)(ii) allows licensure after one year if the applicant completes a training program "accepted by the board." While US DOL programs are explicitly approved, the TSBPE has not yet published a definitive list of *other* accepted private training programs.

  • Risk: Applicants relying on non-DOL third-party certifications risk rejection until the Board issues formal guidance.
  • Guidance: Until rulemaking is finalized, rely on the 2-year experience track or the US DOL Office of Apprenticeship track to ensure application acceptance.

Need Help Understanding Implementation?

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Feb 24, 2025
Passed House
May 2, 2025
Passed Senate
May 25, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsOccupational RegulationOccupational Regulation--other Trades & ProfessionsPlumbers & PlumbingPlumbing Examiners, Texas State Board of
03

House Authors

Rep. Keresa RichardsonRepublican · Primary Author
Joint Authors
Coauthors (49)

Senate Sponsors

Sen. Angela PaxtonRepublican · Primary Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

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More from Rep. Keresa Richardson

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Related by Topic

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB3214

Q

What does Texas HB3214 do?

HB3214 immediately reduces the mandatory experience required for a Journeyman Plumber to sit for the Master Plumber exam from four years to two years (or one year with specific training). This deregulation significantly expands the pool of eligible Master Plumbers but requires plumbing contractors and facility managers to immediately adjust retention strategies, liability insurance reviews, and subcontractor qualification standards. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Effective immediately due to supermajority vote).

Q

Who authored HB3214?

HB3214 was authored by Texas Representative Keresa Richardson during the Regular Session.

Q

When was HB3214 signed into law?

HB3214 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce HB3214?

HB3214 is enforced by Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

Q

How urgent is compliance with HB3214?

The compliance urgency for HB3214 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of HB3214?

The cost impact of HB3214 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does HB3214 address?

HB3214 addresses topics including occupational regulation, occupational regulation--other trades & professions, plumbers & plumbing and plumbing examiners, texas state board of.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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