BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 681 89R11078 AND-D By: Hughes Business & Commerce 3/13/2025 Committee Report (Substituted) AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Texas currently requires professional engineers to renew their licenses annually. In contrast, 43 other states have a minimum renewal period of two years. S.B. 681 proposes extending Texas' renewal period to at least two years, aligning it with the standards of the vast majority of other states. This adjustment aims to reduce administrative burdens and streamline the process, making it easier for engineers to work and contribute to Texas communities. By modernizing the renewal requirements, Texas will remain competitive with other states, attracting and retaining more engineers to help build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous state. (Original Author/Sponsor's Statement of Intent) C.S.S.B. 681 amends current law relating to the renewal of an engineering license or registration. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors in SECTION 3 (Section 1001.351, Occupations Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Subchapter H, Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER H. ENGINEERING LICENSE OR REGISTRATION RENEWAL SECTION 2. Amends the heading to Section 1001.351, Occupations Code, to read as follows: Sec. 1001.351. LICENSE OR REGISTRATION RENEWAL. SECTION 3. Amends Section 1001.351(a), Occupations Code, as follows: (a) Requires the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS) to adopt rules providing for the renewal, rather than to provide for the annual renewal, of a license or registration issued under Chapter 1001 (Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors). Requires that the rules provide that a license or registration issued under this chapter is valid for a term of not less than two years. SECTION 4. Amends Section 1001.405(d), Occupations Code, as follows: (d) Provides that the registration of a business entity issued under this section is valid for the term provided by board rule adopted under Section 1001.351 (Annual Renewal Required), rather than expires on the first anniversary of the date the registration is issued, and is authorized to be renewed by the filing of an updated application under Subsection (c) (relating to application procedures by which a business entity is authorized to register as an engineering practice). Makes a nonsubstantive change. SECTION 5. Requires TBPELS, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt rules to implement Section 1001.351(a), Occupations Code, as amended by this Act. SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 681
89R11078 AND-D By: Hughes
Business & Commerce
3/13/2025
Committee Report (Substituted)
Senate Research Center
C.S.S.B. 681
89R11078 AND-D
By: Hughes
Business & Commerce
3/13/2025
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Texas currently requires professional engineers to renew their licenses annually. In contrast, 43 other states have a minimum renewal period of two years.
S.B. 681 proposes extending Texas' renewal period to at least two years, aligning it with the standards of the vast majority of other states. This adjustment aims to reduce administrative burdens and streamline the process, making it easier for engineers to work and contribute to Texas communities.
By modernizing the renewal requirements, Texas will remain competitive with other states, attracting and retaining more engineers to help build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous state.
(Original Author/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)
C.S.S.B. 681 amends current law relating to the renewal of an engineering license or registration.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors in SECTION 3 (Section 1001.351, Occupations Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Subchapter H, Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER H. ENGINEERING LICENSE OR REGISTRATION RENEWAL
SECTION 2. Amends the heading to Section 1001.351, Occupations Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.351. LICENSE OR REGISTRATION RENEWAL.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 1001.351(a), Occupations Code, as follows:
(a) Requires the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS) to adopt rules providing for the renewal, rather than to provide for the annual renewal, of a license or registration issued under Chapter 1001 (Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors). Requires that the rules provide that a license or registration issued under this chapter is valid for a term of not less than two years.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 1001.405(d), Occupations Code, as follows:
(d) Provides that the registration of a business entity issued under this section is valid for the term provided by board rule adopted under Section 1001.351 (Annual Renewal Required), rather than expires on the first anniversary of the date the registration is issued, and is authorized to be renewed by the filing of an updated application under Subsection (c) (relating to application procedures by which a business entity is authorized to register as an engineering practice). Makes a nonsubstantive change.
SECTION 5. Requires TBPELS, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt rules to implement Section 1001.351(a), Occupations Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2025.