BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 2255 89R15332 BEE-D By: Sparks Veteran Affairs 4/25/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT This legislation aims to ensure that spouses of active military members who relocate to Texas from other states can have their occupational licenses recognized without being required to repeat training, exams, or education. Military families frequently face involuntary moves due to reassignments, which often disrupt the careers of licensed professionals married to service members. Many of these spouses are forced to undergo repetitive licensing requirements despite already meeting similar standards in their previous state. By recognizing out-of-state licenses, this bill seeks to prevent skilled military spouses from leaving the workforce when they move to Texas. There are 22 occupational licenses that every state regulates, and a significant portion67 percentof military spouses who hold such licenses are either nurses or teachers. Texas is currently experiencing workforce shortages in both professions, making it even more critical to remove unnecessary barriers for qualified professionals. This legislation requires that Texas recognize the licenses of those teachers, nurses, and all other occupational licenses held by military spouses from other states, helping to address labor shortages while supporting military families. As proposed, S.B. 2255 amends current law relating to the occupational licensing of military spouses. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority previously granted to a state agency that issues a license is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 55.004, Occupations Code) and SECTION 2 (Section 55.0041, Occupations Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 55.004(a) and (d), Occupations Code, as follows: (a) Requires a state agency that issues a license to adopt rules for the issuance of the license to an applicant who is a military service member, military veteran, or military spouse and meets certain criteria, including holding a current license issued by another jurisdiction that, for a military service member or military veteran, has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements for the license in this state and, for a military spouse, is similar in scope of practice to a license issued in this state. Makes nonsubstantive changes. (d) Provides that a state agency that issues a license that has a residency requirement for license eligibility is: (1) required to adopt rules regarding documentation necessary for an applicant who is a military service member, rather than a military service member or military spouse, to establish residency for purposes of Section 55.004 (Alternative Licensing for Military Service Members, Military Veterans, and Military Spouses), rather than this subsection, including by providing to the agency a copy of the permanent change of station order for the applicant; and (2) prohibited from adopting rules requiring documentation for an applicant who is a military spouse to establish residency for purposes of this section. Makes a conforming change to this subsection. SECTION 2. Amends Section 55.0041, Occupations Code, by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (e) and adding Subsection (b-1), as follows: (a) Provides that, notwithstanding any other law: (1) creates this subdivision from existing text and makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes; and (2) a military spouse is authorized to engage in a business or occupation for which a license is required without obtaining the applicable license if the spouse currently holds a license similar in scope of practice issued by another jurisdiction and is in good standing with that licensing authority. (b) Makes conforming changes to this subsection. (b-1) Requires the military spouse, before engaging in the practice of the business or occupation, to: (1) notify the applicable state agency of the spouse's intent to practice in this state; (2) submit to the agency a copy of the spouse's military identification card; and (3) receive from the agency confirmation that the agency has verified the spouse's license in the other jurisdiction and the spouse is authorized to engage in the business or occupation in accordance with Section 55.0041 (Recognition of Out-of-State License of Military Service Members and Military Spouses). (e) Requires that the rules adopted by a state agency that issues a license to implement this section establish a process for the agency to: (1) identify, with respect to each type of license issued by the agency, the jurisdictions that: (A) creates this paragraph from existing text and makes no further changes; or (B) issue licenses similar in scope of practice to a license issued in this state; and (2) not later than the 30th day after the date a military service member or military spouse submits the information described by Subsection (b) (relating to requiring a military services member to meet certain requirements before engaging in the practice of a business or occupation) or (b-1), rather than Subsections (b)(1) (relating to notifying applicable state agencies of a member's or spouse's intent to practice business) and (2) (relating to proof of a member's or spouse's residency in this state and a copy of the member's or spouse's military identification card), as applicable, verify that the member or spouse is licensed in good standing in a jurisdiction described by Subdivision (1). SECTION 3. Amends Section 55.009, Occupations Code, as follows: Sec. 55.009. LICENSE APPLICATION AND EXAMINATION FEES. Requires a state agency that issues a license, notwithstanding any other law, to waive the license application and examination fees paid to the state for an applicant who is: (1) makes no changes to this subdivision; or (2) either: (A) creates this paragraph from existing text and makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes; or (B) a military spouse who holds a current license issued by another jurisdiction that is similar in scope of practice to a license issued in this state. SECTION 4. Requires a state agency, as defined by Section 55.001, Occupations Code, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt, modify, or repeal the rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act. SECTION 5. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 2255
89R15332 BEE-D By: Sparks
Veteran Affairs
4/25/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 2255
89R15332 BEE-D
By: Sparks
Veteran Affairs
4/25/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
This legislation aims to ensure that spouses of active military members who relocate to Texas from other states can have their occupational licenses recognized without being required to repeat training, exams, or education. Military families frequently face involuntary moves due to reassignments, which often disrupt the careers of licensed professionals married to service members. Many of these spouses are forced to undergo repetitive licensing requirements despite already meeting similar standards in their previous state. By recognizing out-of-state licenses, this bill seeks to prevent skilled military spouses from leaving the workforce when they move to Texas.
There are 22 occupational licenses that every state regulates, and a significant portion67 percentof military spouses who hold such licenses are either nurses or teachers. Texas is currently experiencing workforce shortages in both professions, making it even more critical to remove unnecessary barriers for qualified professionals. This legislation requires that Texas recognize the licenses of those teachers, nurses, and all other occupational licenses held by military spouses from other states, helping to address labor shortages while supporting military families.
As proposed, S.B. 2255 amends current law relating to the occupational licensing of military spouses.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority previously granted to a state agency that issues a license is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 55.004, Occupations Code) and SECTION 2 (Section 55.0041, Occupations Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 55.004(a) and (d), Occupations Code, as follows:
(a) Requires a state agency that issues a license to adopt rules for the issuance of the license to an applicant who is a military service member, military veteran, or military spouse and meets certain criteria, including holding a current license issued by another jurisdiction that, for a military service member or military veteran, has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements for the license in this state and, for a military spouse, is similar in scope of practice to a license issued in this state. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
(d) Provides that a state agency that issues a license that has a residency requirement for license eligibility is:
(1) required to adopt rules regarding documentation necessary for an applicant who is a military service member, rather than a military service member or military spouse, to establish residency for purposes of Section 55.004 (Alternative Licensing for Military Service Members, Military Veterans, and Military Spouses), rather than this subsection, including by providing to the agency a copy of the permanent change of station order for the applicant; and
(2) prohibited from adopting rules requiring documentation for an applicant who is a military spouse to establish residency for purposes of this section.
Makes a conforming change to this subsection.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 55.0041, Occupations Code, by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (e) and adding Subsection (b-1), as follows:
(a) Provides that, notwithstanding any other law:
(1) creates this subdivision from existing text and makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes; and
(2) a military spouse is authorized to engage in a business or occupation for which a license is required without obtaining the applicable license if the spouse currently holds a license similar in scope of practice issued by another jurisdiction and is in good standing with that licensing authority.
(b) Makes conforming changes to this subsection.
(b-1) Requires the military spouse, before engaging in the practice of the business or occupation, to:
(1) notify the applicable state agency of the spouse's intent to practice in this state;
(2) submit to the agency a copy of the spouse's military identification card; and
(3) receive from the agency confirmation that the agency has verified the spouse's license in the other jurisdiction and the spouse is authorized to engage in the business or occupation in accordance with Section 55.0041 (Recognition of Out-of-State License of Military Service Members and Military Spouses).
(e) Requires that the rules adopted by a state agency that issues a license to implement this section establish a process for the agency to:
(1) identify, with respect to each type of license issued by the agency, the jurisdictions that:
(A) creates this paragraph from existing text and makes no further changes; or
(B) issue licenses similar in scope of practice to a license issued in this state; and
(2) not later than the 30th day after the date a military service member or military spouse submits the information described by Subsection (b) (relating to requiring a military services member to meet certain requirements before engaging in the practice of a business or occupation) or (b-1), rather than Subsections (b)(1) (relating to notifying applicable state agencies of a member's or spouse's intent to practice business) and (2) (relating to proof of a member's or spouse's residency in this state and a copy of the member's or spouse's military identification card), as applicable, verify that the member or spouse is licensed in good standing in a jurisdiction described by Subdivision (1).
SECTION 3. Amends Section 55.009, Occupations Code, as follows:
Sec. 55.009. LICENSE APPLICATION AND EXAMINATION FEES. Requires a state agency that issues a license, notwithstanding any other law, to waive the license application and examination fees paid to the state for an applicant who is:
(1) makes no changes to this subdivision; or
(2) either:
(A) creates this paragraph from existing text and makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes; or
(B) a military spouse who holds a current license issued by another jurisdiction that is similar in scope of practice to a license issued in this state.
SECTION 4. Requires a state agency, as defined by Section 55.001, Occupations Code, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt, modify, or repeal the rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act.
SECTION 5. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2025.