A Pro
posed Committee Substitute (PCS) for HB 1461 filed by Rep. Yarkosky and Rep. Esposito making it’s way through the Florida legislature includes sweeping changes to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) that would directly affect the HVACR industry. The PCS, if passed as it stands, would remove at least 22 current boards that oversee licensing and disciplinary reviews for many professionals, including the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)), redesignating them as “programs” administered by “division directors” appointed by the secretary of the DBPR. This would result in regulatory responsibilities moving to DBPR staff.
About the CILB:
The CILB controls licensing and regulations for the Florida construction industry. The Governor of Florida appoints all members of the CILB. The Governor also has the ability to remove any members.
The 18 members of CILB are made up of:
4 General contractors, 3 building contractors or residential contractors, 1 roofing contractor, 1 sheet metal contractor, 1 air-conditioning contractor, 1 mechanical contractor, 1 pool contractor, 1 plumbing contractor, 1 underground utility and excavation contractor, 2 consumer members who are not, and have never been, members or practitioners of a profession regulated by the board or members of any closely related profession and 2 building officials of a municipality or county.
Two divisions make up CILB; Division I and Division II. Division II is made up of members that are roofing contractors, sheet metal contractors, air conditioning contractors, mechanical contractors, pool contractors, plumbing contractors, and underground utility and excavation contractors.
According to an April 21, 2025 article in the Insurance Journal, “HB 1461 seems to be gaining steam in the Florida Legislature. It was approved by one Commerce Committee subcommittee earlier this month, and by the State Administration Budget Subcommittee last week. Several lawmakers said at the subcommittee hearing last week that the measure would improve efficiency in state government and streamline services for professionals and the public…….. The bill’s co-sponsor, Rep. Tiffany Esposito, said at the meeting that the bill targets those boards that have produced few disciplinary actions against licensees in recent years……. Others disagreed and questioned if DBPR would have the staff or the professional experience or knowledge to review complaints and weed out people who don’t meet standards or who don’t stay abreast of changes in building codes, for example, and technology.”
Other key provisions in the PCS include removal of all continuing professional education (CPE) requirements for DBPR-regulated professions and instructions to “conduct a study to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the inclusion of a pathway to licensure for all professions, regulated and licensed by the respective departments, that includes work experience only or work experience plus an examination and submit a report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2026.”
Link to a PDF of the PCS for HB 1461: Bill 1461
Link to a PDF of the Florida Senate Directory HERE
From the Director:
It seems to me that this all-or-none approach to streamlining licensing processes and improving government efficiency is misguided. There have been meetings in Tallahassee where the merits of this PCS were debated but how closely were the broad consequences of these actions considered? Will these changes result in fairer competition within the professions being impacted? Will the public benefit if tradespeople don’t keep up with the latest changes in codes and technology?, If there are some obstacles to economic opportunity and government waste in the DBPR operations, and the answer is probably “yes”, can’t they be addressed individually?
This bill is early in the legislative session and may be amended but it’s not too early to let the men and women you elected know how you feel. The Senate is the next stop. I suggest that you concentrate on 2 or 3 factors relating to how these changes may impact your customers rather than focusing on your business. Safety, will they be offered the best systems to meet their needs, quality of workmanship. Close the email with your name, company name and license number.
Warm regards,
Peter Montana, Director, ACprosite.com
pmontana@ACprosite.com
813.417.6792
