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HB 431 2026
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hb431-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to air-conditioning and mechanical 2
contractors; amending s. 489.105, F.S.; revising the 3
definitions of the terms "class A air-conditioning 4
contractor" and "mechanical contractor" to include 5
additional services that such contractors may perform; 6
providing an effective date. 7
8
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
10
Section 1. Paragraphs (f) and (i) of subsection (3) of 11
section 489.105, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 12
489.105 Definitions.—As used in this part: 13
(3) "Contractor" means the person who is qualified for, 14
and is only responsible for, the project contracted for and 15
means, except as exempted in this part, the person who, for 16
compensation, undertakes to, submits a bid to, or does himself 17
or herself or by others construct, repair, alter, remodel, add 18
to, demolish, subtract from, or improve any building or 19
structure, including related improvements to real estate, for 20
others or for resale to others; and whose job scope is 21
substantially similar to the job scope described in one of the 22
paragraphs of this subsection. For the purposes of regulation 23
under this part, the term "demolish" applies only to demolition 24
of steel tanks more than 50 feet in height; towers more than 50 25
HB 431 2026
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
feet in height; other structures more than 50 feet in height; 26
and all buildings or residences. Contractors are subdivided into 27
two divisions, Division I, consisting of those contractors 28
defined in paragraphs (a)-(c), and Division II, consisting of 29
those contractors defined in paragraphs (d)-(q): 30
(f) "Class A air-conditioning contractor" means a 31
contractor whose services are unlimited in the execution of 32
contracts requiring the experience, knowledge, and skill to: 33
1. Install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or 34
design, if not prohibited by law, central air-conditioning, 35
refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems, including duct 36
work in connection with a complete system if such duct work is 37
performed by the contractor as necessary to complete an air-38
distribution system, boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems, 39
and all appurtenances, apparatus, or equipment used in 40
connection therewith, and any duct cleaning and equipment 41
sanitizing that requires at least a partial disassembling of the 42
system.; to 43
2. Install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or 44
design, if not prohibited by law, piping, insulation of pipes, 45
vessels and ducts, pressure and process piping, and pneumatic 46
control piping.; to 47
3. Replace, disconnect, or reconnect power wiring on the 48
line or load side of the dedicated existing electrical 49
disconnect switch on single phase electrical systems.; to 50
HB 431 2026
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
4. Repair or replace power wiring, disconnects, breakers, 51
or fuses for dedicated HVAC circuits with proper use of a 52
circuit breaker lock.; to 53
5. Install, disconnect, and reconnect low voltage heating, 54
ventilating, and air-conditioning control wiring.; and to 55
6. Install a condensate drain from an air-conditioning 56
unit to an existing safe waste or other approved disposal other 57
than a direct connection to a sanitary system. 58
7. Replace and repair existing package pool heaters and 59
connect replacement package pool heaters to existing pool 60
piping. The replacement of an existing package pool heater must 61
use the same make and model as the existing package pool heater. 62
This includes maintaining the flow rate, connection points, and 63
heater specifications without modifications to existing pool 64
piping or system components. The replacement or repair of an 65
existing package pool heater does not include alterations to the 66
pool's hydraulic system, the addition of bypass valves, the 67
installation of new plumbing, the rerouting of pipes, any 68
changes to the pool's circulation system, or any other 69
modifications beyond what is necessary to disconnect and 70
reconnect the unit to the existing piping. 71
8. Perform The scope of work for such contractor also 72
includes any excavation work incidental to work performed in 73
subparagraphs 1.-7., but not thereto, but does not include any 74
work such as liquefied petroleum or natural gas fuel lines 75
HB 431 2026
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
within buildings, except for disconnecting or reconnecting 76
changeouts of liquefied petroleum or natural gas appliances 77
within buildings; potable water lines or connections thereto; 78
sanitary sewer lines; swimming pool piping and filters; or 79
electrical power wiring. 80
9. A Class A air-conditioning contractor may Test and 81
evaluate central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and 82
ventilating systems, including duct work; however, a mandatory 83
licensing requirement is not established for the performance of 84
these specific services. 85
(i) "Mechanical contractor" means a contractor whose 86
services are unlimited in the execution of contracts requiring 87
the experience, knowledge, and skill to: 88
1. Install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or 89
design, if not prohibited by law, central air-conditioning, 90
refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems, including duct 91
work in connection with a complete system if such duct work is 92
performed by the contractor as necessary to complete an air-93
distribution system, boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems, 94
lift station equipment and piping, and all appurtenances, 95
apparatus, or equipment used in connection therewith, and any 96
duct cleaning and equipment sanitizing that requires at least a 97
partial disassembling of the system.; to 98
2. Install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or 99
design, if not prohibited by law, piping, insulation of pipes, 100
HB 431 2026
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
vessels and ducts, pressure and process piping, pneumatic 101
control piping, gasoline tanks and pump installations and piping 102
for same, standpipes, air piping, vacuum line piping, oxygen 103
lines, nitrous oxide piping, ink and chemical lines, fuel 104
transmission lines, liquefied petroleum gas lines within 105
buildings, and natural gas fuel lines within buildings.; to 106
3. Replace, disconnect, or reconnect power wiring on the 107
line or load side of the dedicated existing electrical 108
disconnect switch on single phase electrical systems.; to 109
4. Repair or replace power wiring, disconnects, breakers, 110
or fuses for dedicated HVAC circuits with proper use of a 111
circuit breaker lock.; to 112
5. Install, disconnect, and reconnect low voltage heating, 113
ventilating, and air-conditioning control wiring.; and to 114
6. Install a condensate drain from an air-conditioning 115
unit to an existing safe waste or other approved disposal other 116
than a direct connection to a sanitary system. 117
7. Replace and repair existing package pool heaters and 118
connect replacement package pool heaters to existing pool 119
piping. The replacement of an existing package pool heater must 120
use the same make and model as the existing package pool heater. 121
This includes maintaining the flow rate, connection points, and 122
heater specifications without modifications to existing pool 123
piping or system components. The replacement or repair of an 124
existing package pool heater does not include alterations to the 125
HB 431 2026
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
pool's hydraulic system, the addition of bypass valves, the 126
installation of new plumbing, the rerouting of pipes, any 127
changes to the pool's circulation system, or any other 128
modifications beyond what is necessary to disconnect and 129
reconnect the unit to the existing piping. 130
8. Perform The scope of work for such contractor also 131
includes any excavation work incidental to work performed in 132
subparagraphs 1.-7., but not thereto, but does not include any 133
work such as potable water lines or connections thereto, 134
sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping and filters, or 135
electrical power wiring. 136
9. A mechanical contractor may Test and evaluate central 137
air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilating 138
systems, including duct work; however, a mandatory licensing 139
requirement is not established for the performance of these 140
specific services. 141
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 142
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