State Rep. Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Township) today voted in support of a plan to roll back unnecessary occupational licensing red tape and modernize Michigan’s boiler installation and repair regulations, helping reduce costs for small businesses and skilled trades professionals while maintaining safety standards.

The legislation is part of the House Republican Red Tape Reduction Initiative, which aims to eliminate burdensome regulations and make life more affordable for residents and workers.

“Every unnecessary rule comes with a cost,” said Wozniak. “When Lansing piles on extra requirements, small businesses and working families end up paying the price. We should be focused on removing barriers and letting skilled workers do their jobs.”

The bill package supports skilled trades workers and small businesses through the following reforms:

• House Bill 4897 would streamline the licensing process for boiler installers by reducing the number of boiler installer classifications from seven to five and setting clear requirements for each license tier.
• House Bill 4898 would create five boiler repair licenses and establish requirements for each classification, replacing Michigan’s current patchwork system with a more efficient structure.
• House Bill 4907 would prohibit certain administrative rules that limit qualified installers and repairers from completing important maintenance and testing work. Under the bill, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) would be required to allow certain license classifications to complete periodic maintenance and testing of controls and safety devices within a boiler system.

Under current administrative rules, boiler installation and repair licenses are divided into multiple layers of classifications that can unnecessarily restrict what work can be performed by lower-tier license holders. Supporters of the reforms say reducing the number of tiers and expanding scope of work where appropriate will help entry-level professionals build experience and support growing workforce needs.

“These are common-sense reforms,” said Wozniak. “We do not need a complicated maze of licensing categories that limits work opportunities and slows down repairs and maintenance. Michigan needs more skilled trades workers, not more bureaucracy standing in their way.”