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HB 6021

Occupations: individual licensing and registration; licensure of sprinkler fitter; provide for under the skilled trades regulation act, and make other amendments to the act. Amends & adds (See bill)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joey Andrews and 15 co-sponsors

Creates a statewide sprinkler fitter licensure with continuing education and pathways for contractors/technicians to regulate installation, servicing, and safety of fire suppressio

bill electronically reproduced 05/21/2026
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Bill Summary · HB 6021

Summary of HB 6021 (Michigan, 2025-2026): Occupations – individual licensing and registration; licensure of sprinkler fitter; under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act

Purpose and intent

  • HB 6021 amends the Skilled Trades Regulation Act (2016 PA 407) to expand and restructure licensing and registration for several mechanical trades, with a central focus on sprinkler fitters and broader regulation of mechanical contractors, journey mechanics, and apprentices.
  • The bill introduces specific licensure pathways, examination requirements, and ongoing continuing education obligations to improve credentialing and oversight of professionals who install, alter, or service mechanical systems, including automatic fire suppression (fire sprinkler) systems.

Key provisions and changes

  • Fees and verifications (Sec. 401)

    • Dept. authority to set fees by rule for licenses, permits, and activities (absent an article-specific fee).
    • Department can issue license verification for current license upon written request.
    • If an applicant with a prior violation of section 608 applies for licensure and is applying for the first time after the violation, the licensure application fee is triple the standard fee.

  • Licensing and penalties (Sec. 601)

    • Unlicensed practice or use of designated titles is prohibited; violations are misdemeanors or felonies with escalating penalties:
    • Not licensed: misdemeanor up to $500 fine, up to 90 days, or both.
    • Second violation: misdemeanor up to $1,000 fine, up to 1 year, or both.
    • Third or subsequent violations: felony up to $25,000 fine or up to 5 years imprisonment, or both.
    • Remedies may include restitution; injunctive relief available with costs and attorney fees to the prevailing party.
    • Stop-work notice provisions for construction violations; circuit court remedies available; stops may require abatement or court order.

  • License misrepresentation (Sec. 608)

    • Prohibits altering or fraudulently using license/registration cards.
    • Violations carry civil fines (up to $1,000), 3-year license ineligibility post-violation, and tripling of application fees upon reapplication.

  • Electrical contracting exemptions (Sec. 737)

    • Clarifies scopes of electrical contractor licenses and certain exemptions (minor repairs, certain elevator work, etc.). Broadly preserves existing exemptions from requiring a licensed electrical contractor in specified activities.

  • Definitions and scope (Sec. 801, 803)

    • Expanded definitions for terms used in the article, including “automatic fire suppression system,” “journey mechanical technician,” “apprentice mechanical technician,” “process piping,” “servicing,” and related terms.
    • Clarifies what constitutes acceptable testing, installation, maintenance, and the roles of various professionals (fire sprinkler contractors, journey technicians, etc.).

  • Board composition and authority (Sec. 805)

    • The Board for this article (board of mechanical rules) continues, with specified representation including fire marshal, mechanical trades, engineers, utility representatives, inspectors, boiler representatives, and organized labor.
    • Board duty to recommend rules for safe design, construction, installation, servicing, and inspection; may recommend certificates of acceptability for materials or methods.

  • Licensure and classifications (Sec. 806, 807, 808, 809)

    • Mechanical contractor, journey mechanical technician, and apprentice mechanical technician must be licensed/registered; only licensed contractors may perform mechanical work.
    • Licensure requires appropriate permits and designation of contractor of record.
    • Pathways for licensure:
    • Sec. 807: Different routes to licensure for mechanical contractors, including:
      • Experience-based paths (3 years/6,000 hours; or certain combinations of current licenses in related classifications).
      • Military service experience credit allowed (with documentation).
      • Credit for completed HVAC programs toward experience requirements (up to 1 year/2,000 hours).
    • Beginning two years after effective date, additional eligibility criteria requiring more detailed experience for certain paths.
    • Classifications for licensure include: Hydronic heating and cooling and process piping; HVAC equipment; Ductwork; Refrigeration; Limited/unlimited heating service; Limited/unlimited refrigeration and air conditioning service; Fire suppression; Specialty.
    • Sec. 808: Journey mechanical technician licensure requirements and classifications (similar structure to contractor licensure, with 3-year renewal terms).
    • Sec. 808a: Apprentice mechanical technician registration for individuals employed as apprentices (3-year term).
    • Sec. 809: Work performed under this article requires designation of contractor of record; contractor of record responsibilities and designation timelines (including post-employment changes and business transfers).

  • Sprinkler fitter licensing and programs (Sec. 814, 814a, 814b)

    • Sec. 814: Creates a sprinkler fitter journeyperson license requiring:
    • Notarized employer statements confirming at least 4 years of knowledge/experience in automatic fire suppression system installation.
    • Documentation of completion of a registered fire sprinkler program.
    • Application fee of $300.
    • License validity: 3 years.
    • Sec. 814a: Continuing education (CE) for sprinkler fitters:
    • Not less than 24 hours of CE per license cycle.
    • CE can be earned via approved workshops/seminars, department-approved courses, distance learning, or recognized programs (with approval processes and sponsor registration).
    • Sponsors must register CE offerings 30 days before delivery; a $30 registration fee applies.
    • Retention requirements and post-completion record-keeping for at least 4 years; department can request details.
    • Sec. 814b: Apprentice sprinkler fitter technician registration:
    • For those enrolled in a registered fire sprinkler program, with a $100 application fee.
    • Valid for 1 year; limits on onsite supervision and multiple employer restrictions.
    • Jobsite ratio: 2 sprinkler fitter journeypersons to 1 apprentice on a given site.

  • Permits, permits-of-record, and owner exemptions (Sec. 819)

    • Allows certain individuals who own a single-family dwelling to install heating or refrigerating systems after obtaining local permits and inspections.
    • Charitable work exemptions and homeowner-performed installations in 1- to 2-family dwellings.
    • Clarifies that certain security alarm system contractors and system providers are exempt from licensing/permit requirements for thermostat work related to HVAC systems.
    • Exemption for owners of single-family dwellings performing own work without licensure, subject to permit and inspection requirements.

Affected parties and scope

  • Mechanical contractors, journey mechanical technicians, apprentices, and sprinkler fitters (journeypersons and apprentices) will be directly licensed, registered, certified, or audited under the Act as amended.
  • Employers and contractors of record must designate license-holding individuals as contractors of record and comply with oversight and permit requirements.
  • Municipalities and governmental subdivisions must align with license requirements; the bill prohibits local licensing for 807/803 work classifications (uniform statewide regulation).
  • Fire sprinkler industry participants (installers and inspectors) will be affected through new journeyperson licensing, CE requirements, and apprenticeship ratios.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Initial implementation details include multiple effective dates relative to the act’s amendments (some sections become active 2 years after the amendatory act’s effective date; others later for CE provisions and licensing pathways).
  • Renewal cycles for licenses are three years with specific renewal windows and potential reinstatement provisions with fees.
  • The department has rulemaking authority to set specific fee levels and to implement CE registration, enforcement, and compliance auditing.
  • Compliance and enforcement provisions include injunctive relief, administrative fines, and potential criminal penalties for violations, with layered remedies that are cumulative.

Practical impact

  • Higher regulatory guardrails for mechanical contracting and fire suppression work aim to improve safety and quality of installations.
  • The sprinkler fitter pathway creates a formal credentialing track with continued education to maintain licensure.
  • Transitional provisions (military service credits, prior licenses, and recognized HVAC programs) provide various routes to licensure, potentially broadening the licensed workforce while standardizing qualifications.
  • Some local regulatory flexibility is limited, as the bill emphasizes statewide licensure and preempts certain local licensing schemes for the described work classifications.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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