THE BILL ITSELF
HB 431
Air-conditioning and Mechanical Contractors
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to air-conditioning and mechanical
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contractors; amending s. 489.105, F.S.; revising the
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definitions of the terms "class A air-conditioning
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contractor" and "mechanical contractor" to include
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additional services that such contractors may perform;
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providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Paragraphs (f) and (i) of subsection (3) of
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section 489.105, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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489.105 Definitions.—As used in this part:
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(3) "Contractor" means the person who is qualified for,
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and is only responsible for, the project contracted for and
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means, except as exempted in this part, the person who, for
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compensation, undertakes to, submits a bid to, or does himself
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or herself or by others construct, repair, alter, remodel, add
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to, demolish, subtract from, or improve any building or
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structure, including related improvements to real estate, for
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others or for resale to others; and whose job scope is
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substantially similar to the job scope described in one of the
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paragraphs of this subsection. For the purposes of regulation
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under this part, the term "demolish" applies only to demolition
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of steel tanks more than 50 feet in height; towers more than 50
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feet in height; other structures more than 50 feet in height;
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and all buildings or residences. Contractors are subdivided into
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two divisions, Division I, consisting of those contractors
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defined in paragraphs (a)-(c), and Division II, consisting of
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those contractors defined in paragraphs (d)-(q):
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(f) "Class A air-conditioning contractor" means a
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contractor whose services are unlimited in the execution of
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contracts requiring the experience, knowledge, and skill to:
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1. Install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or
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design, if not prohibited by law, central air-conditioning,
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refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems, including duct
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work in connection with a complete system if such duct work is
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performed by the contractor as necessary to complete an air-
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distribution system, boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems,
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and all appurtenances, apparatus, or equipment used in
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connection therewith, and any duct cleaning and equipment
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sanitizing that requires at least a partial disassembling of the
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system.; to
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2. Install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or
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design, if not prohibited by law, piping, insulation of pipes,
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vessels and ducts, pressure and process piping, and pneumatic
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control piping.; to
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3. Replace, disconnect, or reconnect power wiring on the
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line or load side of the dedicated existing electrical
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disconnect switch on single phase electrical systems.; to
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4. Repair or replace power wiring, disconnects, breakers,
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or fuses for dedicated HVAC circuits with proper use of a
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circuit breaker lock.; to
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5. Install, disconnect, and reconnect low voltage heating,
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ventilating, and air-conditioning control wiring.; and to
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6. Install a condensate drain from an air-conditioning
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unit to an existing safe waste or other approved disposal other
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than a direct connection to a sanitary system.
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7. Replace and repair existing package pool heaters and
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connect replacement package pool heaters to existing pool
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piping. The replacement of an existing package pool heater must
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use the same make and model as the existing package pool heater.
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This includes maintaining the flow rate, connection points, and
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heater specifications without modifications to existing pool
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piping or system components. The replacement or repair of an
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existing package pool heater does not include alterations to the
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pool's hydraulic system, the addition of bypass valves, the
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installation of new plumbing, the rerouting of pipes, any
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changes to the pool's circulation system, or any other
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modifications beyond what is necessary to disconnect and
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reconnect the unit to the existing piping.
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8. Perform The scope of work for such contractor also
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includes any excavation work incidental to work performed in
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subparagraphs 1.-7., but not thereto, but does not include any
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work such as liquefied petroleum or natural gas fuel lines
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within buildings, except for disconnecting or reconnecting
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changeouts of liquefied petroleum or natural gas appliances
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within buildings; potable water lines or connections thereto;
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sanitary sewer lines; swimming pool piping and filters; or
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electrical power wiring.
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9. A Class A air-conditioning contractor may Test and
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evaluate central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and
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ventilating systems, including duct work; however, a mandatory
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licensing requirement is not established for the performance of
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these specific services.
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(i) "Mechanical contractor" means a contractor whose
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services are unlimited in the execution of contracts requiring
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the experience, knowledge, and skill to:
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1. Install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or
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design, if not prohibited by law, central air-conditioning,
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refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems, including duct
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work in connection with a complete system if such duct work is
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performed by the contractor as necessary to complete an air-
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distribution system, boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems,
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lift station equipment and piping, and all appurtenances,
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apparatus, or equipment used in connection therewith, and any
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duct cleaning and equipment sanitizing that requires at least a
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partial disassembling of the system.; to
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2. Install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or
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design, if not prohibited by law, piping, insulation of pipes,
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vessels and ducts, pressure and process piping, pneumatic
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control piping, gasoline tanks and pump installations and piping
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for same, standpipes, air piping, vacuum line piping, oxygen
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lines, nitrous oxide piping, ink and chemical lines, fuel
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transmission lines, liquefied petroleum gas lines within
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buildings, and natural gas fuel lines within buildings.; to
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3. Replace, disconnect, or reconnect power wiring on the
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line or load side of the dedicated existing electrical
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disconnect switch on single phase electrical systems.; to
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4. Repair or replace power wiring, disconnects, breakers,
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or fuses for dedicated HVAC circuits with proper use of a
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circuit breaker lock.; to
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5. Install, disconnect, and reconnect low voltage heating,
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ventilating, and air-conditioning control wiring.; and to
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6. Install a condensate drain from an air-conditioning
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unit to an existing safe waste or other approved disposal other
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than a direct connection to a sanitary system.
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7. Replace and repair existing package pool heaters and
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connect replacement package pool heaters to existing pool
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piping. The replacement of an existing package pool heater must
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use the same make and model as the existing package pool heater.
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This includes maintaining the flow rate, connection points, and
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heater specifications without modifications to existing pool
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piping or system components. The replacement or repair of an
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existing package pool heater does not include alterations to the
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pool's hydraulic system, the addition of bypass valves, the
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installation of new plumbing, the rerouting of pipes, any
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changes to the pool's circulation system, or any other
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modifications beyond what is necessary to disconnect and
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reconnect the unit to the existing piping.
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8. Perform The scope of work for such contractor also
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includes any excavation work incidental to work performed in
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subparagraphs 1.-7., but not thereto, but does not include any
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work such as potable water lines or connections thereto,
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sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping and filters, or
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electrical power wiring.
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9. A mechanical contractor may Test and evaluate central
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air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilating
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systems, including duct work; however, a mandatory licensing
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requirement is not established for the performance of these
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specific services.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.