Contractors: exemptions: muralists.

Senator Ashby's proposal to exempt muralists from California's contractor licensing requirements carves out new regulatory space for artists who create, restore, or conserve murals under authorized agreements. The legislation adds Section 7050 to the Business and Professions Code, establishing specific parameters for when muralists can work without obtaining a contractor's license.

The bill defines murals as unique works of fine art that are protected by intellectual property rights and painted or drawn by hand directly onto building surfaces. This definition explicitly excludes painted wall signs. Under the proposed exemption, artists must operate through formal agreements with parties legally authorized to commission the work. The exemption would apply whether the mural is created on interior or exterior walls, ceilings, fixtures, or other building components.

This addition joins existing exemptions in the Contractors State License Law, which currently includes provisions for nonprofit organizations providing property owner assistance. The Contractors State License Board would maintain its broader oversight and enforcement authority while recognizing this specific carve-out for qualifying mural projects.