Monitoring the Session

HB 3214

bill cutting experience needed for a master plumber license

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Keresa RichardsonRHouse 61

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to eligibility for a master plumber license.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Four years down to two. One with an approved apprenticeship.

The bill cuts the journeyman plumber experience needed for a master plumber license from four years to two, or to one year for someone who finished an approved apprenticeship program. It touches journeyman plumbers seeking to move up and the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, which must write rules to carry out the change. Starting September 1, 2025, new applicants can qualify for a master plumber license sooner than under current law.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3214 · 2025-02-24

SOLD BY

+ 1 more author, 49 coauthors

ITEM

relating to eligibility for a master plumber license.

WHAT IT DOES

Four years down to two. One with an approved apprenticeship.

The bill cuts the journeyman plumber experience needed for a master plumber license from four years to two, or to one year for someone who finished an approved apprenticeship program. It touches journeyman plumbers seeking to move up and the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, which must write rules to carry out the change. Starting September 1, 2025, new applicants can qualify for a master plumber license sooner than under current law.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 18, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Committee report sent to Calendars
  15. Considered in Calendars
  16. Placed on General State Calendar
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Passed to engrossment
  19. Record vote RV#1241
  20. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote RV#1336
  24. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  25. Reported engrossed
  26. Received from the House
  27. Read first time
  28. Referred to Business & Commerce
  29. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  30. Considered in public hearing
  31. Left pending in committee
  32. Considered in public hearing
  33. Vote taken in committee
  34. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  35. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  36. Committee report printed and distributed
  37. Co-sponsor authorized
  38. Placed on intent calendar
  39. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  40. Vote recorded in Journal
  41. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  42. Vote recorded in Journal
  43. Three day rule suspended
  44. Record vote
  45. Read 3rd time
  46. Passed
  47. Record vote
  48. Senate passage reported
  49. Reported enrolled
  50. Signed in the House
  51. Signed in the Senate
  52. Sent to the Governor
  53. Signed by the Governor
  54. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 120 yea · 2 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 2, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 25, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$574,750.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$574,750.00

Cash
$200,000.00
Paid by others
$374,750.00
Total
$574,750.00
canvassing $350,000.00polling $24,750.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 14, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101069161, 101072822.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$363,511.10

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$363,511.10

Cash
$195,000.00
Paid by others
$168,511.10
Total
$363,511.10
advertising $76,656.57mail $71,344.18polling $20,510.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007087, 101036173, 101040588, 101060020, 101069161, 101072822.

Jeannie Pascale$100,000.00
Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$574,750.00

Cash
$200,000.00
Paid by others
$374,750.00
Total
$574,750.00
canvassing $350,000.00polling $24,750.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 14, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101069161, 101072822.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$363,511.10

Cash
$195,000.00
Paid by others
$168,511.10
Total
$363,511.10
advertising $76,656.57mail $71,344.18polling $20,510.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007087, 101036173, 101040588, 101060020, 101069161, 101072822.

Votes5

Senate May 25, 2025

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

Senator Paxton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 3214 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

Senator Paxton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 3214 at this time on its second reading: HB 3214, Relating to eligibility for a master plumber license. The motion prevailed. Senator Cook asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business. The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 2, 2025

Yea
120
Nay
2
Present, not voting
2
Absent
4
Excused
22
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1336

HB 3214 was passed by (Record 1336): 120 Yeas, 2 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 120 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 22 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 1, 2025

Yea
124
Nay
5
Present, not voting
1
Absent
16
Excused
4
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1241

CSHB 3214 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1241): 124 Yeas, 5 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 124 (published)
  • Nay: 5 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 16 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses7
For
3
Against
0
On
4
Names

For

  • Self3 registrations

On

  • Plumbers local union 681 registration
  • Plumbing Board1 registration
  • The Regional Hispanic Contractors Association1 registration
  • UA Local 286 Plumbers & Pipefitters1 registration
Sources

7 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 18, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 24, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Sponsors
Cosponsors

House committee · Licensing & Administrative Procedures · Committee vote 12 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

PLUMBERS & PLUMBING

PLUMBING EXAMINERS, TEXAS STATE BOARD OF

Text

The text as introduced · 270 words

89R15962 TYPED

By: Richardson
H.B. No. 3214

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to eligibility for a master plumber license.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 1301.002(5), Occupations Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(5) "Master plumber" means a person licensed under

this chapter who:

(A) is skilled in the design, planning, and

superintending of plumbing and in the practical installation,

repair, and servicing of plumbing;

(B) has worked as a journeyman plumber:

(i) for at least two [ four ] years; or

(ii) for at least one year and has

successfully completed a training program approved by the United

States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship or another

nationally recognized apprentice training program accepted by the

board;

(C) performs or supervises plumbing work;

(D) has passed the required examination; and

(E) has fulfilled the other requirements of the

board.

SECTION 2. As soon practicable after the effective date of

this Act, the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners shall adopt

rules as necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act

to Chapter 1301, Occupations Code.

SECTION 3. Section 1301.002, Occupations Code, as amended

by this Act, applies only to an application for a master plumber

license under Chapter 1301, Occupations Code, submitted on or after

the effective date of this Act. An application submitted before the

effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the

date the application was submitted, and the former law is continued

in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.