SB 188

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1Construction Trades Education Amendments
                                        2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                             STATE OF UTAH
                                     Chief Sponsor: Luz Escamilla
                                               House Sponsor:
2
3   LONG TITLE
4   General Description:
5This bill modifies the Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act.
6   Highlighted Provisions:
7This bill:
8▸ modifies the list of organizations that may offer continuing education for a contractor
9   licensee.
10   Money Appropriated in this Bill:
11None
12   Other Special Clauses:
13None
14   Utah Code Sections Affected:
15   AMENDS:
1658-55-302.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 201
17
18   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
19Section 1. Section 58-55-302.5 is amended to read:
2058-55-302.5 . Continuing education requirements for contractor licensees --
21   Continuing education courses.
22   (1)(a) Each contractor licensee under a license issued under this chapter shall complete
23six hours of approved continuing education during each two-year renewal cycle
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24established by rule under Subsection 58-55-303(1).
25(b) Each contractor licensee who has a renewal cycle that ends on or after January 1,
262020, may complete one hour of approved continuing education on energy
27conservation as part of the six required hours.
28   (2)(a) The commission shall, with the concurrence of the division, establish by rule
29made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
30a program of approved continuing education for contractor licensees.
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31     (b) Except as provided in Subsections (2)(c) and (e), only courses offered by any of the
32following may be included in the program of approved continuing education for
33contractor licensees:
34(i) the Associated General Contractors of Utah;
35(ii) the Associated Builders and Contractors, Utah Chapter;
36(iii) the Utah Home Builders Association;
37(iv) the National Electrical Contractors Association, Intermountain Chapter;
38(v) the Utah Plumbing & Heating Contractors Association;
39(vi) the Independent Electrical Contractors of Utah;
40(vii) the Rocky Mountain Gas Association;
41(viii) the Utah Mechanical Contractors Association;
42(ix) the Sheet Metal Contractors Association;
43(x) the Intermountain Electrical Association;
44(xi) the American Subcontractors Association, Utah Chapter; [or]
45(xii) the Utah Roofing Contractors Association[.] ; or
46(xiii) the Utah Masonry Council.
47     (c) An approved continuing education program for a contractor licensee may include a
48course approved by an entity described in Subsections (2)(b)(i) through (2)(b)(iii).
49     (d)(i) Except as provided in Subsections (2)(d)(ii) and (iii), an entity listed in
50Subsections (2)(b)(iv) through [(2)(b)(xii)] (2)(b)(xiii) may only offer and market
51continuing education courses to a licensee who is a member of the entity.
52(ii) An entity described in Subsection (2)(b)(iv), (vi), or (x) may offer and market a
53continuing education course that the entity offers to satisfy the continuing
54education requirement described in Subsection 58-55-302.7(2)(a) to a contractor
55in the electrical trade.
56(iii) An entity described in Subsection (2)(b)(v) or (viii) may offer and market a
57continuing education course that the entity offers to satisfy:
58(A) the continuing education requirement described in Subsection
5958-55-302.7(2)(b) to a contractor in the plumbing trade; or
60(B) the continuing education requirement described in Subsection (1) for a
61contractor licensee that is licensed in the specialty contractor classification of
62HVAC contractor.
63     (e) An approved continuing education program for a contractor licensee may include a
64course offered and taught by:
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65(i) a state executive branch agency;
66(ii) the workers' compensation insurance carrier that provides workers' compensation
67insurance under Section 31A-22-1001; or
68(iii) a nationally or regionally accredited college or university that has a physical
69campus in the state.
70(f) For a contractor licensee that is licensed in the specialty contractor classification of
71HVAC contractor, at least three of the six hours described in Subsection (1) shall
72include continuing education directly related to the installation, repair, or
73replacement of a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning system.
74   (3) The division may contract with a person to establish and maintain a continuing
75education registry to include:
76(a) a list of courses that the division has approved for inclusion in the program of
77approved continuing education; and
78(b) a list of courses that:
79(i) a contractor licensee has completed under the program of approved continuing
80education; and
81(ii) the licensee may access to monitor the licensee's compliance with the continuing
82education requirement established under Subsection (1).
83   (4) The division may charge a fee, as established by the division under Section 63J-1-504,
84to administer the requirements of this section.
85Section 2. Effective Date.
86   This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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