Georgia House bill by Rep. Wiedower revising contractor licensing rules passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill authored by State Rep. Marcus Wiedower seeks to revise contractor licensing qualifications and board authority after winning approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Wednesday, April 2, clearing the House by a vote of 171-2 and the Senate by a vote of 53-1.

The bill, introduced as HB635 on Wednesday, Feb. 26 during the 2025 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors; revise provisions’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends Chapter 41 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, addressing the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors. It revises the qualifications for licensure as a residential or commercial general contractor, the examination process for applicants, and the board’s authority in license refusal or revocation. The board is divided into residential and commercial contractor divisions with specified roles and meeting schedules. The bill outlines eligibility criteria, including education and experience, for licensure in residential-basic, residential-light commercial, and commercial general contractor categories. It also mandates examinations and establishes conditions for renewing licenses, including continuing education requirements. Furthermore, it provides grounds for license revocation and disciplinary actions upon findings of misconduct. Conflicting laws will be repealed.

In the House, 75 Democrats and 96 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while two Republicans opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 23 Democrats and 30 Republicans voted in favor, while one Republican voted against it.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Lehman Franklin (Republican-160th), Rep. Spencer Frye (Democrat-122nd), and Rep. Holt Persinger (Republican-119th), along with three other co-sponsors.

Wiedower graduated from The University of Georgia in 1999.

Wiedower, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 121st House District, replacing previous state representative Barry Fleming.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Friday, May 9.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.