Letter from Scott Conners Opposing House Bill 4913 Regarding Engineering Licensure

Summary

A letter dated October 28, 2025 from Scott Conners, P.E., City Engineer and Director of Public Services for the City of Walker, to Chair Mike Hoadley and the Committee on Economic Competitiveness of the Michigan House of Representatives regarding HB 4913. The writer offers a professional opinion on proposed changes to engineering licensure in the bill and strongly opposes downgrading licensure by potentially eliminating educational requirements. It cites the writer's service as state president of the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers and 29 years representing peers as City Engineer for the City of Walker. It urges the committee to reject the legislation, citing educational standards, professional competence and the safety of Michigan's infrastructure, and offers to serve as a resource. Copies are directed to Speaker Matt Hall and House Rules Committee Chair Bill G. Schuette.

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Full text

October 28, 2025

The Honorable Mike Hoadley, Chair
Committee on Economic Competitiveness
Michigan House of Representatives

P.O. Box 30014

Lansing, MI 48909-7514

Re: HB 4913

Dear Chair Hoadley and Honorable Members of the Committee on Economic Competitiveness: -

I am writing to share my professional opinion on the proposed changes to engineering licensure,
based on the contents of House Bill 4913. I’m fortunate to have represented my profession in
many capacities in my career. I have served as the state president of the Michigan Society of
Professional Engineers, I was honored as Michigan’s Engineer of the Year, and I have
represented my peers in West Michigan for the past 29 years on numerous boards and
committees as the City Engineer for the City of Walker. I’ve also lectured on ethics and
professional conduct. I believe that I have a good feel for the pulse of our profession.

I strongly oppose the downgrading of our professional licensure by potentially eliminating the
educational requirements. The education is so critical in teaching us to solve problems. Both in
the classroom and in life. Our young engineers are already entering the workforce without all
the savvy they need to make critical technical decisions and to share those details in a universally
understood language. I have witnessed a daily erosion in the professionalism of our next
generation of engineers. Stripping away the basic requirements for licensure will only serve to
accelerate that loss of dedication to our public heath, safety, and welfare.

As a past and present leader of the 1000 licensed professional engineers in the state of Michigan,
I urge the Committee to reject this legislation, which would undermine educational standards,
professional competence, and the safety of Michigan’s infrastructure and communities.
Please consider me as a resource if you seek professional testimony or have questions that I can
help you work through in your deliberation. I can be reached at 616-655-8528 or
sconners(@walker.city.

Sincerely,

Scof€ Conners, P.E.

City Engineer / Director of Public Services — City of Walker
MSPE Past State President

MSPE Past Engineer of the Year

ce: The Honorable Matt Hall, Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives
The Honorable Bill G. Schuette, Chair, House Rules Committee

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2025-10-30_testimony_hb-4913-scott-conners-city-of-walker-michigan_59178.pdf

Original

www.house.mi.gov