Oppose Montana Senate Bill No. 365

In the interest of public health and safety, working Montanans strongly oppose this bill and respectfully request that SB 365 not move forward beyond its introduction.

The Montana Plumbing Board has served the state for over 75 years as the primary source of plumbing regulations, standards, and licensure for two essential purposes: to ensure public safety and prevent public health risks. They are the stalwarts in the Montana plumbing field and maintain a standard of excellence through professional guidance and depth of institutional knowledge by codifying the proven and reliable process of testing, education, and experience required to be a licensed practitioner, journeyman, or master plumber in the state.

The experts on the Montana Board of Plumbers have combined plumbing experience of over 140 years … longer than Montana statehood. And the Board continues to be a symbiotic relationship between the state and citizens as a revenue-generating board assuring safety without being a cost to taxpayers. The Board is good for Montanans, and its loss would be to the immediate and long-term detriment of Montanans.

With the demands on Montana water paired with an increasing population and commensurate residential and commercial construction going forward, eliminating the Montana Plumbing Board, now or in the future, would court preventable public health and utility catastrophes. Additionally, removing the Board stands to weaken a steadfast career field that continues to be a bastion of the middle-class. This bill would undercut reliable career paths at a time when Montana families are most vulnerable and put into question future businesses desire to build or relocate to a state where water stability/safety is uncertain.

In recent years, Montana has seen unprecedented increases in population growing nearly 10% from 2010 to 2020. This rate of growth is not expected wane going forward. This population increase and consequential demand is exceeding Montana’s limited natural water resources. Water systems throughout the state are stretched ever thinner. Released by Governor Greg Gianforte, a 2021 Water Supply and Drought Outlook reported noted the severity and seriousness of Montana’s troubled water future. Following the release of the report, Gianforte said. “I am tasking state agency directors to begin reviewing authorities and options to support our agricultural producers as some battle extreme drought conditions.”

The most concerning aspect of SB 365 is the singular focus on the eradication of the Board of Plumbing within Section 1, Section 37-1-332, MCA, initially sparing the Board of Realty Regulation, and the State Electrical Board from similar dissolution. It is important to note that Montanans have not expressed any desire the intent or function of the Board to be dissipated under a different agency. On the contrary, the Board has equitably, consistently, and professionally administered state laws and regulations over the years. If passed, this will bill remove expertise from plumbing oversight and place decisions regarding plumbing licensure with non-subject matter experts. This elimination would put Montanans at unnecessary risk.

Why We Oppose SB 365

Board of Plumbers Maintain Excellence

Montana law affords standards for the field of plumbing to the Montana Board of Plumbers to ensure public safety and prevent public health risks; and to ensure the plumbing industry maintains a (minimum) standard of excellence through professional guidance and depth of institutional knowledge by codifying the proven and reliable process of testing, education, and experience required to be a licensed practitioner, journeyman, or master plumber in Montana

Preservation of Montana’s Public Health and Safety

Montana plumbing laws and the Montana Plumbing Board have been in effect for nearly 75 years – these laws have efficiently and effectively performed as intended by modernizing with technological advancements with a singular goal: Keep the public safe.

Montanans Have Not Requested This

Throughout its existence, the Board has equitably, consistently, and professionally administered state laws and regulations over the years. There has not been and is not an outcry to reorganize the function of the board under a different agency.

Future Anticipated Job Growth

Montana is consistently listed as the top state for plumber employment opportunities. This bill would undercut wages at a time when Montana families are most vulnerable.

Lost Experience and Knowledge

Over 140 years of combined professional experience and institutional knowledge held by the independent board of plumbers would be lost to the immediate and long-term detriment of Montanans.

Increased and Unnecessary Bureaucracy

If passed, this will forcibly remove plumbing expertise and place the decisions of plumbing licensure into a complex bureaucracy of non-subject matter experts. This elimination would promptly and indefinitely place Montanans at unnecessary risk.