HB 2390
In CommitteeHouse
Fenestration certification
Establishing fenestration certification requirements for certain public works contracts.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill requires contractors bidding on large public construction projects involving windows, glass, or skylights to hold specific national certifications and to employ a minimum number of certified technicians. It applies to projects costing $25 million or more for new construction, or $5 million or more for renovations.
- Requires national certifications for contractors and workers on large public works projects involving windows, glass, or skylights (fenestration).
- Starting January 1, 2028, contractors must hold a national glazing contractor certification and employ at least one certified technician.
- Starting January 1, 2029, at least 25% of workers performing fenestration work must hold a national technician certification.
- Adds new certification documentation as a condition of bid submission and contract award.
- Amends existing responsible bidder rules to include compliance with these new certification requirements.
Who is affected
- Construction and glazing contractors — Contractors bidding on large public construction projects involving windows, glass, or skylights must now meet new certification and staffing requirements to be eligible to win contracts.
- Fenestration workers and supervisors — Workers on qualifying projects must hold specific national certifications, and contractors must ensure a minimum percentage of certified workers are on-site.
- Public agencies (state and local governments) — State and local government agencies must update their bidding processes to include certification verification and may face added administrative work in reviewing compliance.
- Training and certification organizations — Training providers and certification bodies may see increased demand for training and certification services related to fenestration work.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Mandating national certifications for contractors and technicians on large public projects improves quality control and reduces risk of defective fenestration installation — which can lead to water intrusion, structural damage, mold, and safety hazards in public buildings like schools and hospitals.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)(i), Sec. 1(2)(b)By ensuring certified technicians install windows and skylights in schools and other public facilities, the bill helps protect student health and learning environments (e.g., reducing mold, improving daylighting and thermal comfort), which disproportionately benefits low-income districts with older infrastructure.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b), Sec. 1(4)(c)Certification pathways create clearer career ladders for fenestration workers, especially those in unionized or formal training programs, by formalizing skills recognition and potentially increasing wages and job security for certified technicians.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)(ii), Sec. 1(2)(b)The requirement for nationally accredited certifications (ANSI-accredited programs) raises the baseline quality of training and reduces variability in contractor competence, which benefits public agencies and taxpayers by reducing long-term maintenance and repair costs.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1(4)(b)-(c)The bill reenacts and expands the responsible bidder training requirement (e.g., on prevailing wage and public works laws), which improves compliance and reduces wage theft or misclassification — though this is not unique to fenestration and overlaps with existing requirements.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 2(1)(f), Sec. 3(1)(f)
Potential Concerns (5)
Contractors bidding on large public projects must now document national certifications and employ certified technicians, increasing administrative burden and compliance costs for all bidders, especially smaller firms with limited resources to manage certification tracking and documentation.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)(ii), Sec. 2(4), Sec. 3(4)The 25% certified technician requirement by 2029 may reduce contractor flexibility in workforce deployment, especially on projects where certified labor is scarce or where workers are cross-trained across multiple trades — potentially slowing project timelines or increasing labor costs.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1(2)(b), Sec. 2(4), Sec. 3(4)Public agencies (e.g., school districts, cities, universities) must now verify certification compliance during bidding and contract administration, adding administrative overhead and potentially requiring new staff training or software upgrades.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1(1)(a)-(b)The bill amends existing responsible bidder training requirements (Sec. 2(1)(f) and 3(1)(f)) but does not adjust them to account for the new fenestration certification burden, potentially creating overlapping or redundant compliance obligations for contractors.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 2(1)(f), Sec. 3(1)(f)The definition of ‘fenestration product or system’ excludes premanufactured windows or skylights, creating a potential gap in oversight: contractors using premanufactured units may avoid certification requirements even when installing complex or high-risk systems, undermining the bill’s safety and quality goals.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1(4)(a)
Who Is Most Affected
Contractors bidding on large public fenestration projects face higher barriers to entry: they must obtain national certifications and ensure staffing compliance, which disproportionately impacts small- and mid-sized firms without dedicated compliance staff or training budgets.
Certified fenestration technicians gain formal recognition and potential wage premiums, but non-certified workers — especially those in informal or temporary roles — may be excluded from project work, increasing job insecurity for lower-income laborers.
Public agencies gain improved project quality and reduced long-term liability, but must invest in new verification systems and staff time to enforce certification compliance — a cost that may strain smaller jurisdictions.
Training providers and certification bodies (e.g., AGT, NGA) may see increased demand for certification prep and exams, but the bill does not fund or subsidize training, limiting access for low-income workers and small firms.