89R8589 DNC-F
By: Middleton S.B. No. 2531
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to occupational licensing reciprocity agreements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 2, Occupations Code, is amended by adding
Chapter 61 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 61. OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS
Sec. 61.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Licensing authority" means a department,
commission, board, office, or other agency of this state that
issues or renews an occupational license.
(2) "Occupational license" means a license, permit,
registration, certificate, or other form of authorization that must
be obtained by an individual to engage in a business, occupation, or
profession.
Sec. 61.002. GOAL FOR OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING RECIPROCITY
AGREEMENTS. Each licensing authority shall:
(1) maximize occupational licensing reciprocity
agreements to the extent allowed by law; and
(2) identify state laws that prevent the licensing
authority from entering into a reciprocity agreement with a
licensing authority in another state.
Sec. 61.003. RULES. A licensing authority shall adopt
rules necessary to implement this chapter. The rules must
establish procedures for the licensing authority to:
(1) determine whether the licensing requirements of
another state are substantially equivalent to the requirements of
this state, taking into consideration:
(A) the level of required training and testing to
obtain a license, including methods used to evaluate work
experience to fulfill training or testing requirements;
(B) the scope of practice for which the license
is issued; and
(C) the procedures used in the other state to
resolve complaints and to determine whether a license holder is in
good standing; and
(2) enter into and implement reciprocity agreements
with licensing authorities in other states that have occupational
licensing requirements substantially equivalent to this state's
requirements.
Sec. 61.004. REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each
odd-numbered year, each licensing authority shall submit to the
governor and the Legislative Budget Board a written report that:
(1) summarizes the licensing authority's efforts under
Section 61.002, including a description of the extent to which this
state's licensing requirements exceed the requirements of other
states;
(2) describes the licensing authority's efforts to
enter into reciprocity agreements with licensing authorities in
other states, including a list of:
(A) each reciprocity agreement entered into; and
(B) any unsuccessful effort to enter into a
reciprocity agreement with a licensing authority of another state;
and
(3) recommends any legislative action that is
necessary or appropriate to increase the number of occupational
license reciprocity agreements as directed by this chapter,
including any reduction of this state's licensing requirements that
would make more reciprocity agreements possible.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, each licensing
authority shall adopt the rules required by Section 61.003,
Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Section 61.004, Occupations
Code, as added by this Act, a licensing authority shall submit the
initial report required by that section not later than December 1,
2027.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.