BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 1818 89R21806 RAL-D By: Hancock Veteran Affairs 4/4/2025 Committee Report (Substituted) AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Since 2019, military spouses are allowed to practice in Texas if they hold a license that is substantially equivalent in another state and that license is in good standing. In 2023, military members were added to that provision. However, obtaining a letter in good standing from the issuing authority in other states is often not easy or agile enough to support military servicemember and spouse mobility when moving to Texas. Some states may take as long as six months to issue a letter in good standing. The lack of timeliness prevents military members and spouse applicants from being able to easily transfer their license or certification when assigned to Texas military installations while depriving the applicant of the ability to pursue their profession and inhibiting their contribution to the Texas economy. S.B. 1818 would implement a six-month temporary licensing and certification process for military members and spouses assigned to Texas military installations who are simply awaiting the letter of good standing from another issuing authority to either receive their Texas license or letter of authority to operate in Texas in accordance with S.B. 1200 (86R). The temporary license or certification will allow military spouses to pursue their professions, contribute to the Texas economy, and mitigate the lack of urgency by non-Texas licensing authorities in providing letters in good standing. Analysis S.B. 1818 amends the Occupations Code to require a state agency to issue a provisional license to the military member, veteran, or spouse while the agency processes the application if they are in accordance with current state law requirements. The provisional license will expire on the earlier of the date the agency either approves or denies the provisional license holder's application or 180 days after the date the provisional license is issued. Committee Substitute: The committee substitute would allow agencies to issue full licenses rather than just provisional licenses, giving our servicemembers and their families the ability to get to work right away while avoiding the need for them to come back six months later to upgrade a provisional license. This will give agencies the ability to use existing licensing systems and procedures, thus eliminating the need for additional systems or costly system integration upgrades. The substitute also maintains flexibility for agencies that do use provisional licenses in accordance with legislation. C.S.S.B. 1818 amends current law relating to the issuance of a license or provisional license to certain military service members, military veterans, and military spouses to engage in a business or occupation in this state. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to state agencies in SECTION 3 of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 55.004, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (b-1), as follows: (b-1) Requires a state agency, on receipt by the agency of an application for a license in accordance with Section 55.004 (Alternative Licensing for Military Service Members, Military Veterans, and Military Spouses), to promptly issue a provisional license to the applicant while the agency processes the application or issue the license for which the applicant applied. Provides that a provisional license issued under this subsection expires on the earlier of the date the agency approves or denies the provisional license holder's application for the license or the 180th day after the date the provisional license is issued. SECTION 2. Amends Section 55.0041, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (b-1), as follows: (b-1) Requires a state agency, on receipt by the agency of the notice and information required by Subsections (b)(1) (relating to requiring a military service member or military spouse to notify the applicable state agency of their intent to practice in this state) and (2) (relating to requiring a military service member or military spouse to submit proof of residency and a copy of their military identification card), to promptly issue the confirmation under Subsection (b)(3) (relating to requiring the agency to verify the license and confirm authorization to practice) or issue a provisional license to the military service member or military spouse pending the issuance of a confirmation under Subsection (b)(3). Provides that a provisional license issued under this subsection expires on the earlier of the date the agency issues or denies confirmation under Subsection (b)(3) or the 180th day after the date the provisional license is issued. SECTION 3. Requires a state agency, as defined by Section 55.001 (Definitions), Occupations Code, not later than December 1, 2025, to adopt rules to implement Sections 55.004(b-1) and 55.0041(b-1), Occupations Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 1818
89R21806 RAL-D By: Hancock
Veteran Affairs
4/4/2025
Committee Report (Substituted)
Senate Research Center
C.S.S.B. 1818
89R21806 RAL-D
By: Hancock
Veteran Affairs
4/4/2025
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Since 2019, military spouses are allowed to practice in Texas if they hold a license that is substantially equivalent in another state and that license is in good standing. In 2023, military members were added to that provision.
However, obtaining a letter in good standing from the issuing authority in other states is often not easy or agile enough to support military servicemember and spouse mobility when moving to Texas. Some states may take as long as six months to issue a letter in good standing. The lack of timeliness prevents military members and spouse applicants from being able to easily transfer their license or certification when assigned to Texas military installations while depriving the applicant of the ability to pursue their profession and inhibiting their contribution to the Texas economy.
S.B. 1818 would implement a six-month temporary licensing and certification process for military members and spouses assigned to Texas military installations who are simply awaiting the letter of good standing from another issuing authority to either receive their Texas license or letter of authority to operate in Texas in accordance with S.B. 1200 (86R). The temporary license or certification will allow military spouses to pursue their professions, contribute to the Texas economy, and mitigate the lack of urgency by non-Texas licensing authorities in providing letters in good standing.
Analysis
S.B. 1818 amends the Occupations Code to require a state agency to issue a provisional license to the military member, veteran, or spouse while the agency processes the application if they are in accordance with current state law requirements.
The provisional license will expire on the earlier of the date the agency either approves or denies the provisional license holder's application or 180 days after the date the provisional license is issued.
Committee Substitute:
The committee substitute would allow agencies to issue full licenses rather than just provisional licenses, giving our servicemembers and their families the ability to get to work right away while avoiding the need for them to come back six months later to upgrade a provisional license. This will give agencies the ability to use existing licensing systems and procedures, thus eliminating the need for additional systems or costly system integration upgrades. The substitute also maintains flexibility for agencies that do use provisional licenses in accordance with legislation.
C.S.S.B. 1818 amends current law relating to the issuance of a license or provisional license to certain military service members, military veterans, and military spouses to engage in a business or occupation in this state.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to state agencies in SECTION 3 of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 55.004, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (b-1), as follows:
(b-1) Requires a state agency, on receipt by the agency of an application for a license in accordance with Section 55.004 (Alternative Licensing for Military Service Members, Military Veterans, and Military Spouses), to promptly issue a provisional license to the applicant while the agency processes the application or issue the license for which the applicant applied. Provides that a provisional license issued under this subsection expires on the earlier of the date the agency approves or denies the provisional license holder's application for the license or the 180th day after the date the provisional license is issued.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 55.0041, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (b-1), as follows:
(b-1) Requires a state agency, on receipt by the agency of the notice and information required by Subsections (b)(1) (relating to requiring a military service member or military spouse to notify the applicable state agency of their intent to practice in this state) and (2) (relating to requiring a military service member or military spouse to submit proof of residency and a copy of their military identification card), to promptly issue the confirmation under Subsection (b)(3) (relating to requiring the agency to verify the license and confirm authorization to practice) or issue a provisional license to the military service member or military spouse pending the issuance of a confirmation under Subsection (b)(3). Provides that a provisional license issued under this subsection expires on the earlier of the date the agency issues or denies confirmation under Subsection (b)(3) or the 180th day after the date the provisional license is issued.
SECTION 3. Requires a state agency, as defined by Section 55.001 (Definitions), Occupations Code, not later than December 1, 2025, to adopt rules to implement Sections 55.004(b-1) and 55.0041(b-1), Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2025.