MT HB239

Transfers construction contractor regulation from a registration system to a formal licensing program under the Department of Labor and Industry, effective January 1, 2026

Requires license applicants to provide social security numbers, proof of workers' compensation compliance, IRS employer identification numbers, and names/addresses of business owners, partners, or officers

Establishes unprofessional conduct standards including fraud, misappropriation of client funds, interference with investigations, and improper classification of workers as independent contractors

Authorizes penalties up to $5,000 for unprofessional conduct violations, with fines deposited into the uninsured employers' fund, plus potential suspension or debarment from public works contracts

Provides liability protection for persons who hire licensed construction contractors, shielding them from employer liability for workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, and wages for the contractor and their employees