Oklahoma Senate Bill SB1035

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/25
• Refer: 2/4/25
• Report Pass: 3/6/25
• Engrossed: 3/25/25
• Refer: 4/1/25
• Report Pass: 4/15/26

Caption

Plumbing License Law of 1955; definitions and inapplicability; exceptions. Effective date.

Summary

SB1035 amends the Plumbing License Law of 1955 to update definitions and clarify when the law does not apply. The bill revises the statutory definition section to modernize terminology, including expressly defining “utility contractor” and updating references to “plumbing contractor” in place of the former “master plumber” terminology. It also makes technical wording changes to the definition of “plumbing,” including a specific reference to radiant-floor heating piping in residential homes under certain BTU limits and use of approved piping under the International Mechanical Code. The bill also expands and clarifies exemptions from plumbing licensure requirements. In addition to existing exclusions for minor repairs, farm buildings, state institutions, sprinkler systems, and certain HVAC/boiler-related piping, it adds an exemption for individuals doing plumbing work on their own residence and a new exemption for qualified utility contractors with a Class D Operator certification or higher from the Department of Environmental Quality. Those utility contractors may perform specified work on service mains, service lines, sewer, gas, storm drainage, downspout boots, and fire risers within a defined area on private property, subject to bond coverage and limits on work that repairs prior plumbing contractor work.

Impact

SB1035 would amend 59 O.S. 2021, Sections 1003 and 1017, affecting the scope of the Plumbing License Law of 1955 and the categories of work that require plumbing licensure. The bill would broaden statutory exceptions for certain utility contractors and homeowners, while also updating the law’s terminology and cross-references to reflect current licensing and code language. Its practical effect would be to shift some underground utility and service-line work outside the plumbing licensing framework, while leaving the core licensing structure for plumbers and plumbing contractors intact.

Sentiment

The available voting history indicates generally favorable legislative sentiment toward the bill. It received unanimous or near-unanimous support in committee early in the process and passed the Senate floor with a substantial majority, though not unanimously. The House committee also approved it, including an amended committee substitute, suggesting broad agreement on the need to update and clarify the plumbing statutes.

Contention

The main points of potential contention appear to be the expanded exemption for utility contractors and the homeowner exemption. These changes may raise concerns among licensed plumbers and plumbing contractors about work being performed outside the traditional licensing system, especially for service mains, sewer and gas lines, and related infrastructure on private property. The bill’s limitation that utility-contractor work must be within the contractor’s bond scope and not involve repairs to prior plumbing-contractor work appears designed to address some of those concerns. The floor vote in the Senate, while strong, was not unanimous, indicating some disagreement over the scope of the exemptions or the policy balance between licensing oversight and utility-contractor flexibility.