House Bill No. by Representative Jordan introduces the Louisiana Plumbing Workforce Access Act, designed to tackle the shortage of licensed plumbers in the state by creating an Institutional Plumbing Pathway. This pathway allows individuals, particularly from low-income communities, rural areas, and communities of color, to pursue plumbing licensure without needing employer sponsorship. The Act outlines the establishment of curriculum standards, competency-based assessments, and an industry rotation program, while also providing incentives for employers to engage in training. Notably, it includes a returning citizen pathway, enabling individuals released from correctional facilities to earn credit towards licensure.

Additionally, the Act facilitates the licensure of out-of-state plumbers through a Louisiana equivalency examination, bypassing the need for the Institutional Plumbing Pathway. Financial assistance programs will be created to support students in need, covering stipends and examination fees. The State Plumbing Board is responsible for implementing the Act, including setting rules and regulations, and will report annually to the legislature on the program's progress, including enrollment and examination pass rates. The legislation emphasizes collaboration with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) to ensure a structured educational pathway and mandates the establishment of competency checkpoints to assess practical skills.