H552 Summary: General Contractor Licensing Amendments

• Requires applicants to identify a "qualifier" or "qualifying party" (an individual who has passed an approved examination) to take the licensing examination on behalf of the applicant.

• Establishes four eligibility requirements for examination: be at least 18 years old, possess good moral character, provide evidence of financial responsibility, and submit the appropriate application fee.

• Clarifies that intermediate license holders can work on projects up to $1,000,000 and limited license holders up to $500,000, both excluding land costs and ancillary land improvement costs.

• Allows a license to remain valid for 90 days after a qualifier or qualifying party ceases their connection to the licensee, after which the license becomes invalid unless reinstated through proper procedures; licensee cannot bid on new contracts during this 90-day period.

• Changes license expiration date from December 31 to January 1, and establishes that licenses inactive for four years become "archived" and cannot be renewed—the licensee must reapply as a new applicant.