SB85 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Linda Coleman-MadisonSenator
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Electrical contractors, licensed by county or municipality, authorized to work in any county or municipality in the state, Sec. 34-36-13 am'd.
Summary: SB85 would let electricians licensed by a county or municipality work anywhere in Alabama by creating a pathway for the state Board to issue a statewide license based on that local license, without needing a new exam.
What This Bill Does
The bill creates a process for county- or municipality-licensed master or journeyman electricians to obtain a statewide license without taking another exam, as long as they provide verification that they passed a nationally recognized exam and have no outstanding complaints. Applicants must submit a verification letter from the local issuing authority, the agency name/address if applicable, and a copy of their local license. The Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors would review applications and mail the statewide license within 10 business days if approved, and may charge reasonable processing fees. Local authorities may still require their own exams, but anyone holding a valid statewide license from the board can work anywhere in the state with proper building permits and business licenses, and all licensees must follow state and local laws.

Who It Affects
Group 1: Electricians licensed by counties or municipalities as master or journeyman electricians, who would be able to work outside their home jurisdiction once they obtain a statewide license through the board’s process (subject to verification requirements).
Group 2: Electricians who already hold a statewide license from the Alabama Board (and their employers/clients), who would be recognized to work anywhere in Alabama, provided they have the proper permits and business licenses.

Key Provisions
The Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors may issue a statewide license without a new examination to county/municipality master or journeyman electricians who have a local license, passed a nationally recognized written exam at the time it was administered, and have no outstanding complaints.
Applicants must submit: (a) an original letter from the local authority confirming exam passage and no complaints; (b) the name and address of the administering agency if applicable; (c) a copy of the local license showing the relevant category.
The Board will review these applications at its regular meetings and mail the license within 10 business days if approved; if not approved, the board must provide an explanation.
The Board may establish reasonable fees for issuing and processing these applications, not exceeding the fees charged to reciprocal applicants from participating states.
Local authorities may continue to require their own examinations, but a valid statewide license from the Board qualifies the holder to work statewide with proper permits and business licenses.
All licensees must comply with state and local laws and ordinances.
Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after its passage into law.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Electrical Contractors