Bill
SB 231
SB 231 reduces appointed Board of Mechanical Rules members from 14 to 12, clarifies required professional seats, and ensures all appointees are qualified in their field.
Status & Reference
- Bill: SB 231 (amends sec. 805 of 2016 PA 407 — MCL 339.5805)
- Subject: Occupations — mechanical contractors; state boards and commissions (Board of Mechanical Rules)
- Introduced: January 28, 2025
- Current status: Referred to Committee on Regulatory Affairs
Purpose and intent
- SB 231 revises the statutory composition and some membership eligibility rules for the Board of Mechanical Rules (the board that advises on the Michigan mechanical code and may recommend rules to the State Construction Code Commission). The primary objective is to change how board membership is structured and to update the list of required representatives on the board.
Key provisions and changes
- Reduces the number of gubernatorial appointees:
- Current statute provides 14 appointed members; SB 231 changes the language to provide for 12 appointed resident members (the state fire marshal or the marshal’s designee remains a permanent member).
- Re-specifies required appointed seats and qualifications:
- Retains a mix of seats representing the public, organized labor, mechanical contractors, professional engineers, boiler manufacturers, inspectors, utilities and other trade representatives, but reorganizes and clarifies particular classifications that must be represented (for example: HVAC, fire suppression, refrigeration, boiler experience, antique steam boilers).
- Requires appointed members (except the public representative) to be “qualified in his or her respective field” and to be at least 18 years old.
- Governance provisions preserved/clarified:
- At the board’s first meeting each year it elects a vice-chair and secretary from governor-appointed members; the governor designates the chairperson.
- A majority of members constitutes a quorum. Board actions are not effective unless approved by two-thirds of members attending a meeting.
- The board may recommend code and rule changes, certificates of acceptability, and other actions to the State Construction Code Commission.
- Statutory citation: the bill amends MCL 339.5805 (section 805 of 2016 PA 407).
Who is affected
- Stakeholders with direct interest in mechanical codes and licensing: mechanical contractors (HVAC, refrigeration, fire suppression), professional mechanical engineers, boiler manufacturers and operators, mechanical inspectors (chief inspectors of local jurisdictions), energy-utility representatives, organized labor representing mechanical trades, owners/users of high‑pressure boilers, and the general public (via the public representative seat).
- Indirectly affects local enforcement entities and anyone subject to the Michigan mechanical code (construction firms, building owners, permitting authorities).
Potential impact
- Representation on the Board of Mechanical Rules will change both in size and in the specified mix of professional seats — this may shift stakeholder influence on recommended code and rule changes that affect licensing, inspection standards, boiler safety, and contractor practice.
- A slightly smaller appointed board may affect quorum dynamics and voting outcomes (notably the 2/3 approval requirement for actions taken at meetings).
- Because the board advises the State Construction Code Commission, any change in board composition can influence recommendations that shape statewide mechanical code interpretations and administrative guidance.
Procedural / timeline notes
- Introduced January 28, 2025; referred to the Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs (next steps would be committee hearings, possible amendments, and votes to proceed). No enactment date or fiscal notes are included in the text provided.
For reference
- Bill amends: Sec. 805, 2016 PA 407 (MCL 339.5805).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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