AN ACT Relating to enforcement of plumbing contractor requirements;
HB 2513 strengthens enforcement of Washington’s plumbing contractor requirements by increasing minimum monetary penalties for infractions and adding license-related consequences for repeat violations. The bill amends the plumbing contractor enforcement provisions in state law to require a minimum $100 penalty for a first infraction by a person and a minimum $500 penalty for a first infraction by a contractor, with a maximum penalty of $5,000 for second or subsequent infractions. It also directs the department to establish a penalty schedule by rule and limits the ability of an administrative law judge to waive, reduce, or suspend the penalty, while still allowing the director to reduce or waive collection for good cause.
The bill further creates stronger disciplinary authority for repeated violations. A person or plumbing contractor who is found by final order to have committed three infractions involving residential service plumbing or construction performed on a residential structure within a 36-month period may have their certificate, license, endorsement, or registration suspended for up to two years, on recommendation of the advisory board of plumbers. Separately, if an individual or contractor is found by final order to have committed five or more infractions within five years, the department may suspend their credential for up to two years and may require a corrective action plan before reinstatement. Multiple violations from a single inspection or audit are counted as one infraction for these purposes.
The bill also clarifies that the enhanced suspension authority does not apply to infractions involving residential service plumbing or construction performed on a residential structure under the five-in-five rule, and it requires monetary penalties collected under the chapter to be deposited into the plumbing certificate fund. Overall, the measure is aimed at improving compliance and deterrence in the plumbing contracting industry by tying repeated violations to both financial penalties and credential discipline.
Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, the general sentiment can only be inferred from the bill’s structure and purpose. The bill appears to reflect a regulatory and enforcement-focused approach, suggesting support for stronger consumer protection and contractor accountability. No direct opposition or support is documented in the provided materials, but the main policy tension is likely between stricter enforcement for public protection and concerns from contractors about higher penalties and the loss of discretion in reducing sanctions.
Notable points of contention would likely center on the increased minimum penalties, the restriction on administrative law judges’ ability to mitigate penalties, and the new suspension triggers for repeated infractions. Contractors and trade groups may view the bill as punitive or overly rigid, while regulators, consumer advocates, and licensing authorities may support it as a necessary tool to address repeat noncompliance and unsafe or substandard plumbing work.
HB 2513 amends Washington’s plumbing contractor enforcement statutes by raising minimum fines, capping penalties for repeat infractions, and authorizing license, endorsement, or registration suspensions for repeated violations. It also requires the department to adopt a penalty schedule by rule and directs collected penalties into the plumbing certificate fund, thereby strengthening the state’s administrative enforcement framework for plumbers and plumbing contractors.
No committee testimony or vote record is provided, so there is no documented public debate to measure directly. The bill’s design indicates a generally pro-enforcement, pro-accountability sentiment, with the likely goal of improving compliance and protecting consumers from repeat violators. Any opposition would likely come from contractors concerned about higher penalties, reduced mitigation discretion, and the possibility of suspension after multiple infractions.
The main points of contention are likely the higher mandatory minimum penalties, the limit on administrative law judges’ ability to waive or reduce penalties, and the new authority to suspend credentials after repeated infractions. Plumbing contractors and industry representatives would likely be most concerned about the bill’s stricter sanctions, while regulators and consumer protection advocates would likely support the tougher enforcement tools. The bill also raises a technical issue about how multiple violations from one inspection or audit are counted, which could affect how quickly suspension thresholds are reached.