BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 871

By: Morrison

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Prior to the enactment of a statewide license for HVAC/R contractors, each municipality issued its own license for which a fee was charged. After the enactment went into effect, it is reported that municipalities began charging contractors a registration or administrative fee to do business within the city limits. In some metropolitan areas, HVAC/R contractors could be required to pay multiple municipal registration fees, which can be expensive. H.B. 871 seeks to address this issue by prohibiting a municipality from charging a registration fee to a person who holds a statewide air conditioning and refrigeration contractor license for certain work or notice.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 871 amends the Occupations Code to prohibit a municipality from charging a registration fee to a person who holds a statewide air conditioning and refrigeration contractor license for the following:

· work performed in the municipality; or

· notice informing the municipality of the person's license.

H.B. 871 expressly does not prohibit a municipality from charging a building permit fee.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.