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AGMT and NACC Certification Programs Celebrate Passage of Oregon Glaziers Bill

Signed into law on June 11, 2025, the bill requires national certifications for certain taxpayer-funded projects

Images courtesy of NACC and AGMT

The Architectural Glass and Metal Certification Council (AGMCC), which sponsors both the North American Contractor Certification (NACC) and Architectural Glass and Metal Technician (AGMT) programs, announces that Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed House Bill 2680 into Oregon law on June 11, 2025, requiring NACC and AGMT certifications on some publicly funded work. The bill goes into effect July 1, 2027.

Passed with bipartisan support, the ‘Glaziers Bill’ requires a contractor, as a condition of receiving public funds to install, repair, or remodel a fenestration product or system in a public building, to hold the NACC credential and to have at least one employee hold the AGMT credential. NACC and AGMT are North America’s only third-party credentials for glazing contractors and glaziers. The law applies to publicly funded projects with a total project scope of $25 million in new construction or $5 million in renovation work. Oregon became the second state after Rhode Island to mandate these national certifications for public glazing projects.

“On behalf of NACC and AGMT, we celebrate Oregon’s commitment to ensuring public glazing projects are installed by a competent and qualified glazing contractor who hires installers with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the job right the first time – minimizing costly defects and failures. I can hardly think of a more responsible use of taxpayer dollars,” said Terry Schaefer, vice president of AMS, Inc., which administers the certifications.

Two Oregon glazing contractors currently hold the NACC credential, with others in progress toward earning certification this summer. South Town Glass of Salem, Newberg, and Redmond has held NACC since 2020 and Black Line Glazing (BLG, Inc.) of Salem and Grant Pass earned NACC in February. Both are signatory contractors with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 5. However, the NACC and AGMT programs are open to union and non-union members alike.

In Senate testimony, third generation glazing contractor, registered architect, and South Town Glass President Jenny McNally, RA, spoke about the importance of requiring certifications. “We live in a difficult area to build – with heavy rain and temperature swings – so if you don’t install glass and glazing correctly, buildings will leak,” she said. “Recognizing the value of professional training in the construction field as a means to ensure quality and to reduce mistakes is one of the reasons our company was an early adopter of the national glazing certification. The new law gives the public 100-year buildings that are built to last.”

BLG Founder and CEO Darand A. Davies also testified in support of the bill. “By creating an even playing field, we ensure owners get the level of quality, safety, and durability required by the building designer,” he described. “Especially for work being paid for by taxpayers, it’s important to use the best quality glazing contractors and glaziers on the market.”

HB2680 was sponsored by Representatives Rob Nosse (D) of Portland, Willy Chotzen (D) of Portland, and Jeff Helfrich (R) of Hood River, and Senator Mark Meek (D) of Oregon City/Gladstone/Happy Valley. IUPAT District Council 5’s political department and the PAC/WEST Lobby Group actively supported the legislation. PAC/WEST Vice President of Construction Policy and Regulatory Affairs Mark Long said, “HB2680 recognizes the important work of professional glazing installers who have made the personal and professional commitment to maintain and develop their skills through lifelong training and education. Credentials like AGMT align well with Oregon’s apprenticeship and industry training goals.”