2025 -- S 0749
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LC001869
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTOR
LICENSING
Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Burke, Appollonio, Patalano, and Tikoian
Date Introduced: March 07, 2025
Referred To: Senate Labor & Gaming
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 5 of the General Laws entitled "BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS" 1
is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 2
CHAPTER 65.4 3
RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTOR LICENSING 4
5-65.4-1. Short title and purpose. 5
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island residential contractor 6
licensing law" to safeguard the public health, the purpose of this chapter is to establish a licensing 7
program and minimum standards for contractors supervising or performing structural work in 8
residences of one to four (4) family dwelling units. 9
5-65.4-2. Definitions. 10
Unless specified otherwise, the definitions of § 5-65-1 shall apply to this chapter. As used 11
in this chapter: 12
(1) "Board" means the contractors' registration and licensing board established in chapter 13
65 of title 5. 14
(2) "Residential structure" means a building consisting of one to four (4) family dwelling 15
units. 16
(3) "Structurally remodeling" means work performed by a contractor identified by the 17
board as impacting components that support a building's safety or integrity, and any other work 18
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identified by the board that requires permits and/or inspections under the state building code. 1
(4) "Supervising construction" means the performance, management, guidance or oversight 2
of the physical development of structures. 3
5-65.4-3. Licensing. 4
(a) In addition to the provisions of chapter 65 of title 5, the contractors' registration and 5
licensing board is authorized to establish a program to license contractors that supervise the 6
construction of new residential structures, or structurally remodel existing residential structures, to 7
ensure persons performing such are properly qualified to conduct the work. As determined by the 8
contractors' registration and licensing board, contractors only performing nonstructural home 9
improvement work shall remain subject exclusively to the registration system in chapter 65 of title 10
5. 11
(b) The license program shall not create an unreasonable barrier to entry nor inhibit trade 12
or competition, but shall be designed to advance consumer protection by establishing a standard of 13
competency and enhance ongoing adherence to building standards and codes through continuing 14
education, code competency demonstrations, or industry training programing. The board may 15
create a reasonable license pathway or substantive evidence standard to issue licenses to contractors 16
registered prior to January 1, 2026, but it shall not be a grandfathering based solely on registration 17
status prior to January 1, 2026. 18
(c) The board may adopt, for licenses granted under this chapter, any policy or procedure 19
applicable to registrations under chapter 65 of title 5 that does not conflict with the provisions of 20
this chapter; provided, however, that any penalties issued pursuant to this chapter shall be 21
determined by the board and the state building office shall assist the board with the administration 22
of such penalties. 23
(d) On or before January 1, 2026, the contractors' registration and licensing board shall 24
promulgate regulations to establish a licensing program for: 25
(i) Supervising construction of new residential structures; and 26
(ii) Structurally remodeling of existing residential structures. 27
(e) Beginning on January 1, 2027, no person shall supervise the construction of a new 28
residential structure or structurally remodel an existing residential structure without proper 29
licensure from the contractors' registration and licensing board. A license issued by the board to a 30
contractor under this chapter shall serve to fulfill the contractor registration requirements of chapter 31
65 of title 5. 32
(f) Pursuant to board regulations, all persons seeking to be licensed as a new residential 33
structure construction supervisor or residential construction remodeler as defined herein shall 34
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submit an application to the contractors' registration and licensing board on the form or forms that 1
the board requires. As specified by the board, the application shall include, but not be limited to, 2
the following information: 3
(1) The name and photo identification of the applicant; 4
(2) The business address of the applicant; 5
(3) The mailing address of the applicant; 6
(4) The telephone number of the applicant; 7
(5) Any registration number and/or other license number issued by the state, or any city or 8
town; 9
(6) A statement of the skills, training, and experience of the applicant sufficient to ensure 10
public safety, health, and welfare; 11
(7) Proof of insurance; and 12
(8) Agent of service for out-of-state contractors. 13
(g) To be eligible for licensure as a new residential structure construction supervisor or as 14
a residential construction remodeler, an applicant shall also, at a minimum, fulfill the following 15
requirements: 16
(l) Pass appropriate examination approved or administered by the contractors' registration 17
and licensing board; 18
(2) Be in good standing with and satisfy all requirements of the rules and regulations 19
established by the contractors' registration and licensing board; and 20
(3) Satisfy continuing education requirements as prescribed and recognized by the 21
contractors' registration and licensing board. 22
(h) The contractors' registration and licensing board is authorized to adopt rules and 23
regulations pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42("administrative procedures"), necessary to effectuate 24
the purposes of this chapter. Rules and regulations shall provide a fine schedule, which shall 25
establish grounds for discipline for license holders or non-licensed contractors. Fines shall be 26
structured not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) per day, per offense for conduct injurious 27
to the welfare of the public, as well as those grounds for discipline established pursuant to § 5-65-28
10. 29
(i) Any person applying for a license under this chapter and making any material 30
misstatement as to applicant's experience or other qualifications, or any person, firm, or corporation 31
subscribing to or vouching for any misstatement, shall be subject to the discipline and penalties 32
provided in § 5-65-10. 33
(j) No corporation, firm, association, or partnership shall engage in the business of the 34
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construction of new residential structures or structurally remodeling of existing residential 1
structures, or represent itself as such, unless licensed by the contractors' registration and licensing 2
board. If the license holder dies or otherwise becomes incapacitated, the corporation, firm, or 3
association shall be allowed to continue to operate until the next examination shall be given or such 4
times as the board shall see fit. In no event shall the corporation, firm, association, or partnership 5
continue to operate longer than twelve (12) months or in accordance with the board's established 6
rules and regulations without satisfying the license requirements of this chapter. 7
5-65.4-4. Fees. 8
All persons seeking licensure under this chapter shall submit a payment in the amount as 9
determined by the contractors' registration and licensing board, which shall support the licensing 10
program, representing a license fee. All fines and fees collected pursuant to this chapter shall be 11
deposited into a restricted-receipt account, which shall be exempt from the indirect cost recovery 12
provisions of § 35-4-7, to be used exclusively to support programs established by the board. 13
5-65.4-5. Penalties for violations. 14
(a) Any person who operates as a supervisor of new residential construction or remodeler 15
of existing residential structures without a license as adjudged in a final order issued by the board, 16
upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be 17
imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year or fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), 18
or both, for a first or second offense. A third or subsequent violation of this chapter shall be a felony 19
and, upon conviction, the person shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding two (2) years, or 20
fined not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), or both. 21
(b) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the order 22
including, but not limited to, the monetary judgment and/or fines, is not more than five thousand 23
dollars ($5,000), upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon 24
conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year, fined not more than one thousand 25
dollars ($1,000), or both. 26
(c) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the order 27
including, but not limited to, the monetary judgment and/or fines, is five thousand dollars ($5,000) 28
or more, upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall 29
be imprisoned for a term not exceeding ten (10) years, fined not more than ten thousand dollars 30
($10,000), or both. 31
(d) A final order shall be considered delivered when served to a defendant or designated 32
agent to accept service. In addition to any sentence or fine imposed by the court under subsections 33
(a), (b) and (c) of this section, the court shall order a defendant to comply with any outstanding 34
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final order of the board, including any monetary judgment, and to pay to the board any outstanding 1
fine or fines previously imposed by the board pursuant to this chapter. 2
(e) If a contractor is a repeat offender with violations of three (3) or more final orders of 3
the board with respect to three (3) separate individuals/aggrieved parties and the violations are filed 4
within a twenty-four (24) month period, the violation shall be prosecuted as a felony and, upon 5
conviction, the violator shall be subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed ten (10) years, or 6
fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both. 7
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 8
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTOR
LICENSING
***
This act would require that beginning January l, 2027, all contractors supervising structural 1
remodeling or building new residential structures with one to four (4) family dwelling units be 2
licensed by the contractors' registration and licensing board. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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