Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2531 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R8589 DNC-F
2	2	By: Middleton S.B. No. 2531
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to occupational licensing reciprocity agreements.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Title 2, Occupations Code, is amended by adding
12	12	Chapter 61 to read as follows:
13	13	CHAPTER 61. OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS
14	14	Sec. 61.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
15	15	(1) "Licensing authority" means a department,
16	16	commission, board, office, or other agency of this state that
17	17	issues or renews an occupational license.
18	18	(2) "Occupational license" means a license, permit,
19	19	registration, certificate, or other form of authorization that must
20	20	be obtained by an individual to engage in a business, occupation, or
21	21	profession.
22	22	Sec. 61.002. GOAL FOR OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING RECIPROCITY
23	23	AGREEMENTS. Each licensing authority shall:
24	24	(1) maximize occupational licensing reciprocity
25	25	agreements to the extent allowed by law; and
26	26	(2) identify state laws that prevent the licensing
27	27	authority from entering into a reciprocity agreement with a
28	28	licensing authority in another state.
29	29	Sec. 61.003. RULES. A licensing authority shall adopt
30	30	rules necessary to implement this chapter. The rules must
31	31	establish procedures for the licensing authority to:
32	32	(1) determine whether the licensing requirements of
33	33	another state are substantially equivalent to the requirements of
34	34	this state, taking into consideration:
35	35	(A) the level of required training and testing to
36	36	obtain a license, including methods used to evaluate work
37	37	experience to fulfill training or testing requirements;
38	38	(B) the scope of practice for which the license
39	39	is issued; and
40	40	(C) the procedures used in the other state to
41	41	resolve complaints and to determine whether a license holder is in
42	42	good standing; and
43	43	(2) enter into and implement reciprocity agreements
44	44	with licensing authorities in other states that have occupational
45	45	licensing requirements substantially equivalent to this state's
46	46	requirements.
47	47	Sec. 61.004. REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each
48	48	odd-numbered year, each licensing authority shall submit to the
49	49	governor and the Legislative Budget Board a written report that:
50	50	(1) summarizes the licensing authority's efforts under
51	51	Section 61.002, including a description of the extent to which this
52	52	state's licensing requirements exceed the requirements of other
53	53	states;
54	54	(2) describes the licensing authority's efforts to
55	55	enter into reciprocity agreements with licensing authorities in
56	56	other states, including a list of:
57	57	(A) each reciprocity agreement entered into; and
58	58	(B) any unsuccessful effort to enter into a
59	59	reciprocity agreement with a licensing authority of another state;
60	60	and
61	61	(3) recommends any legislative action that is
62	62	necessary or appropriate to increase the number of occupational
63	63	license reciprocity agreements as directed by this chapter,
64	64	including any reduction of this state's licensing requirements that
65	65	would make more reciprocity agreements possible.
66	66	SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, each licensing
67	67	authority shall adopt the rules required by Section 61.003,
68	68	Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
69	69	SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Section 61.004, Occupations
70	70	Code, as added by this Act, a licensing authority shall submit the
71	71	initial report required by that section not later than December 1,
72	72	2027.
73	73	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
74	74	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
75	75	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
76	76	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
77	77	Act takes effect September 1, 2025.