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2025 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 175
BY SENATOR WOMACK
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
PLUMBERS. Provides relative to the State Plumbing Board. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact the introductory paragraph of R.S. 37:1361(B), 1361(B)(3) and (4)
3 and (D), 1362, 1363, 1366(A)(1), and 1379, relative to the State Plumbing Board; to
4 provide for membership of the board; to provide for terms of office; to provide for
5 the election of officers of the board; to provide for duties of the board; to provide
6 relative to an advisory committee; to provide for terms, conditions, and procedures;
7 to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. The introductory paragraph of R.S. 37:1361(B), R.S. 37:1361(B)(3) and
10 (4) and (D), 1362, 1363, 1366(A)(1), and 1379 are hereby amended and reenacted to read
11 as follows:
12 §1361. State Plumbing Board; appointments; qualifications; legislative intent;
13 authority
14 * * *
15 B. The State Plumbing Board is created. The board, which shall be appointed
16 by the governor, shall consist of one registered mechanical engineer who is also
17 licensed by the State Plumbing Board, one plumbing inspector who is also licensed
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1 by the State Plumbing Board, three five master plumbers, three journeyman
2 plumbers one journeyman plumber, one residential plumber limited, and two
3 members of the public. Each appointment shall be made in the following manner:
4 * * *
5 (3)(a) Master Three active master plumbers shall be from a list of nine
6 names submitted by the Louisiana Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling
7 Contractors Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors of Louisiana or its
8 successors.
9 (b) Two active master plumbers shall be from a list of six names
10 submitted by the Louisiana Pipe Trades Association or its successor.
11 (c) Each active master plumber appointed shall be listed as the
12 responsible master plumber for his company.
13 (4) Journeymen plumbers The journeyman plumber shall be from a list of
14 nine three names submitted by the Louisiana Pipe Trades Association or its
15 successor.
16 * * *
17 D. All members shall be qualified electors of this state and, except for the
18 public members, shall be licensed by the board except the first board members who
19 shall be licensed within one year. The public members shall represent the general
20 public and shall not earn their livelihood in a construction related industry.
21 * * *
22 §1362. Term of office
23 The members of the board shall serve for six years, provided, however, that
24 initially three appointees shall serve for two years, three appointees shall serve for
25 four years, and two appointees shall serve for six years or and shall remain serving
26 after their term expires until their successors are appointed by the governor.
27 §1363. Officers of the board
28 A. The board shall elect from its members a chairman, a vice chairman, and
29 a secretary-treasurer for two year terms; the election to be held within thirty days of
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1 July 1 August first in each odd-numbered year.
2 B.(1) The chairman and vice chairman shall be an active master plumber
3 listed as the responsible master plumber for his company.
4 (2) The chairman shall vote only in case of a tie.
5 * * *
6 §1366. Duties of the board
7 A.(1) The board shall adopt tests of qualification to be possessed by any
8 persons actually engaged in the repair of existing alteration, installation,
9 maintenance, or repair of plumbing in one- and two-family dwellings and see that
10 any person engaged in the duties of a residential plumber limited shall possess a
11 residential plumber limited license.
12 * * *
13 §1379. Advisory committee
14 There shall be an advisory committee appointed by the Louisiana Pipe Trades
15 Association and the Louisiana Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling
16 Contractors, Inc. Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors of Louisiana, with
17 each organization appointing five members to the committee. The committee shall
18 have access to all meetings and records of the board and shall have the privilege of
19 discussing board business at any and all meetings, and advise the board upon the
20 board's activities. They shall receive no pay or expenses and shall not be qualified
21 to vote.
22 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
23 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
24 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
25 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
26 effective on the day following such approval.
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate Legislative Services.
The keyword, summary, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof
or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
DIGEST
SB 175 Original 2025 Regular Session Womack
Present law creates the State Plumbing Board (board) and provides for nominations and
appointments of members, including one registered mechanical engineer, one plumbing
inspector, three master plumbers, three journeymen plumbers, one residential plumber
limited, and two members of the public.
Proposed law retains present law in part and provides that the board shall be composed of
the following:
(1)One registered mechanical engineer from a list of three names submitted by La.
Dept. of Health.
(2)One plumbing inspector from a list of three names submitted by La. State Uniform
Construction Code Council.
(3)Five active master plumbers.
(a)Three active master plumbers from a list of nine names submitted by the
Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors of Louisiana (formerly
LAPHCC) or its successor.
(b)Two active master plumbers from a list of six names submitted by the La.
Pipe Trades Association or its successor
(c)Each active master plumber appointed shall be listed as the responsible
master plumber for their company.
(4)One journeyman plumber from a list of three names submitted by the La. Pipe
Trades Association or its successor.
Present law provides that all members shall be qualified electors of this state and licensed
by the board except the first board members who shall be licensed within one year.
Proposed law retains present law in part, except provides that all members, except the public
members, shall be licensed by the board. Provides that the public members shall not earn
their livelihood in a construction related industry.
Present law provides that board members shall serve for six years, provided that the initial
three appointees shall serve for two years, three appointees shall serve for four years, and
two appointees shall serve for six years or until their successors are appointed by the
governor.
Proposed law retains present law in part, except provides that board members shall serve for
six years and shall remain serving after the term expires until their successors are appointed
by the governor.
Present law provides that the board shall elect from its members a chairman, vice chairman
and a secretary-treasurer for two year terms. Further provides that the election shall be held
within 30 days of July first in each odd-numbered year and the chairman shall vote only in
case of a tie.
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Proposed law retains present law in part, except requires the election to be held within 30
days of August first in each odd-numbered year. Further provides that the chairman and vice
chairman shall be an active master plumber listed as the responsible master plumber for his
company.
Present law provides that any person engaged in the repair of existing plumbing in one- and
two- family dwellings shall possess a residential plumber limited license.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that any person engaged in the installation,
alteration, or maintenance of existing plumbing in one- and two- family dwellings shall
possess a residential plumber limited license.
Proposed law changes the name of the La. Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling
Contractors, Inc. (LAPHCC) to the Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors of
Louisiana.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 37:1361(B)(intro para), (B)(3) and (4) and (D), 1362, 1363, 1366(A)(1), and
1379)
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.