HF3731 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Class A installer license eliminated from the electrical code.
Related bill: SF3719
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- The bill aims to remove the Class A installer license from Minnesota’s electrical licensing system and to reorganize how electrical licensing is regulated, overseen by the Board of Electricity with ongoing support from the Commissioner of Labor and Industry.
Main Provisions
Board responsibilities and rulemaking
- The board can elect officers, adopt bylaws, and set meeting dates.
- It must adopt the Minnesota Electrical Code (the most current National Electrical Code and its amendments) and handle interpretations, as specified in law.
- It will create and enforce rules for licensure or registration of electrical workers, including electrical businesses, electrical contractors, master electricians, journeyworker electricians, Class A installer, Class B installer, power-limited technicians, and other related roles (with certain exceptions noted for specific license types).
- It will establish continuing education requirements for licensed or registered individuals.
- It will refer complaints to the commissioner about possible violations of electrical laws or rules.
- It can approve per diem and expenses for its members, oversee license reciprocity agreements, and select members to serve on other state advisory bodies, and recommend license and certification fees.
- The commissioner will coordinate rulemaking with other state boards and provide staff and resources to support the board.
License expiration, renewal, and fees
- The bill sets specific expiration dates for different licenses (e.g., master licenses, electrical contractor licenses, technology system contractor licenses, satellite system contractor licenses, and other personal licenses), with various expiration cycles (two-year or other multi-year periods) and one-year expirations for registrations of unlicensed individuals.
- The renewal and fee framework includes treating certain registrations as entry-level licenses for fee calculation, and a fee of $100 for each filing of a certificate of responsible person.
- It requires the commissioner to administer license issuance, renewal, and fees, with staff support from the board and coordination with existing statutes.
Repeals and the old Class A installer framework
- Repeals Minnesota Statutes sections 326B.31 subdivision 7 and 326B.33 subdivision 3.
- The appendix repeals the old definitions and scope of the Class A installer, noting that as of December 1, 2007 no new Class A installer licenses would be issued. Current holders may retain, renew, and exercise the privileges of their Class A installer license, but no new licenses are issued after that date.
Administrative and cross-board responsibilities
- The Minnesota Electrical Code remains tied to the National Electrical Code, with amendments, and is part of the state’s rules under the board’s oversight.
- The commissioner of labor and industry oversees administration and enforcement of the chapter and its rules (except as otherwise specified), with staff and space provided by the commissioner.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Elimination of the Class A installer license as a licensure category, and repeal of the old Class A installer provisions (no new Class A licenses after 2007; existing licenses may be renewed).
- Reorganization of license expiration schedules and fee structures for various license types and registrations.
- Expanded board authority to regulate licensure, continuing education, and rulemaking, with clear responsibilities for coordination with the commissioner and other boards.
Potential Implications (What this means in practice)
- People who previously held a Class A installer license will no longer be able to obtain new Class A licenses, effectively consolidating or shifting responsibilities to other license categories.
- The licensing system will have more defined renewal cycles and clearer fee rules, which could affect planning for licensees and employers.
- The board’s role in education and rulemaking may lead to updated training requirements and ongoing professional development for electricians and related workers.
Relevant Terms - Class A installer, Class B installer - Electrical contractor, master electrician, journeyworker electrician - Power limited technician, technology systems contractor, satellite system contractor - Minnesota Electrical Code, National Electrical Code, amendments - Board of Electricity (the board), Commissioner of Labor and Industry - Licensure, registration, continuing education - Per diem, expenses, reciprocity - Certificate of responsible person - Sections: 326B.32, 326B.33, 326B.31 (repealed provisions), old Class A installer definitions - Unlicensed individual registrations, fee calculations, rulemaking and oversight - Farmsteads and small towns (historical Class A scope)
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Past committee meetings
- Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy on: March 03, 2026 08:15
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 25, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy | |
| March 05, 2026 | House | Action | Committee report, to adopt | ||
| March 05, 2026 | House | Action | Second reading | ||
| March 18, 2026 | House | Action | House rule 1.21, placed on Calendar for the Day |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Explicit authority for the board to elect its chair, vice chair, and secretary.",
"Ability to adopt bylaws and set meeting dates and other provisions for efficient operation.",
"Authority to adopt the Minnesota Electrical Code (the NEC and amendments) with reference to chapter 14 and subdivision 6(b)-(c).",
"Power to review requests for final interpretations and issue final interpretations (referenced to 326B.127, subd. 5).",
"Authority to adopt rules regulating licensure/registration of electrical professionals and associated licensing categories.",
"Authority to regulate continuing education for electrical professionals.",
"Requirement to advise the commissioner on educational requirements for electrical inspectors.",
"Process to refer complaints to the commissioner regarding code compliance or licensing issues.",
"Authority to approve per diem and expenses for board members.",
"Authority to approve license reciprocity agreements.",
"Ability to select board members for service on other state advisory councils/boards and to recommend license and certification fees."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The bill expands and clarifies the board's powers and duties under 326B.32, including governance, code adoption, interpretations, licensing rules, continuing education, staff support, and fee/reciprocity decisions.",
"modified": [
"Reframes and expands the board's governance and regulatory duties, bringing them into a more explicit statutory framework."
]
},
"citation": "326B.32",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Not a substantive new content addition; cross-references to subdivision 6(b)-(c) to govern rulemaking and code-related actions."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The bill references the board's rulemaking and code adoption as provided in subdivision 6(b)-(c), clarifying the procedural basis for adopting the NEC and amendments.",
"modified": [
"Clarifies that code adoption and amendments occur under the framework of subdivision 6(b)-(c), alongside the NEC requirements."
]
},
"citation": "326B.32",
"subdivision": "subdivision 6"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Master licenses expire March 1 of each odd-numbered year after issuance/renewal.",
"Electrical contractor licenses expire March 1 of each even-numbered year after issuance/renewal.",
"Technology system contractor and satellite system contractor licenses expire August 1 of each even-numbered year after issuance/renewal.",
"All other personal licenses expire two years from issuance and every two years thereafter.",
"Registrations of unlicensed individuals expire one year from issuance and every year thereafter.",
"These schedules replace prior expiration timelines with explicit calendar-based expirations."
],
"removed": [
"Previously varying or unspecified expiration patterns for these licenses have been repealed in favor of fixed schedules."
],
"summary": "The bill sets new license expiration timelines for various license categories under 326B.33, detailing when each license type expires and how renewals are scheduled.",
"modified": [
"License renewal timing is standardized across license types, with distinct cycles (two years, specific February/March/August dates)."
]
},
"citation": "326B.33",
"subdivision": "subdivision 19"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
" repeal of 326B.31, subd. 7, removing the Class A installer definition from this statute."
],
"summary": "The bill repeals 326B.31, subdivision 7, which previously defined Class A installer qualifications.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "326B.31",
"subdivision": "subdivision 7"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
" repeal of 326B.33, subd. 3, removing the Class A installer licensure definition."
],
"summary": "The bill repeals 326B.33, subdivision 3, which defined the Class A installer licensure.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "326B.33",
"subdivision": "subdivision 3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Explicit reference that final interpretations may be issued under 326B.127, subd. 5."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The bill anchors the board’s ability to issue final interpretations to 326B.127, subd. 5.",
"modified": [
"Clarifies procedural basis for final interpretations within the board's authority."
]
},
"citation": "326B.127",
"subdivision": "subdivision 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Board rulemaking coordination with all other boards created under this chapter (including the commissioner’s role in coordinating).",
"Staff support (professional legal, technical, and clerical) provided to the board by the commissioner.",
"Office space and supplies provided by the commissioner to assist the board."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The bill requires cross-board coordination of rulemaking and establishes board staff support and space under 15.0597.",
"modified": [
"Strengthens governance by mandating inter-board coordination and formal staff provisioning for rulemaking activities."
]
},
"citation": "15.0597",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2 and 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Registration of an unlicensed individual under subdivision 12 is treated as an entry-level license for fee calculation.",
"Designates certain licenses as journeyworker licenses (Class A journeyworker electrician, Class B journeyworker electrician, Class A installer, Class B installer, lineman, maintenance electrician, satellite system installer, power-limited technician).",
"Designates certain licenses as master licenses (Class A master electrician, Class B master electrician).",
"Designates certain licenses as business licenses (Class A electrical contractor, Class B electrical contractor, satellite system contractor, technology systems contractor)."
],
"removed": [
"Old license-fee classifications that did not align with these new journeyworker/master/business categorizations."
],
"summary": "The bill changes license fee calculation by reclassifying certain licenses for fee purposes.",
"modified": [
"Fee calculation and renewal structure adjusted to reflect the revised categorization of licenses into journeyworker, master, and business licenses."
]
},
"citation": "326B.092",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"No substantive new content; cross-reference to chapter 14 for rulemaking procedures related to code adoption."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The bill references Minnesota Statutes, chapter 14, in relation to the adoption and amendments of the Minnesota Electrical Code.",
"modified": [
"Contextualizes NEC adoption within the statutory framework of chapter 14."
]
},
"citation": "chapter 14",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee