Relating to licensing reciprocity agreements entered into by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the official text

H.B. No. 11

AN ACT

relating to licensing reciprocity agreements entered into by the

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 51, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter K to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER K. LICENSING RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS

Sec. 51.551. GOALS FOR LICENSING RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS.

(a) The department shall maximize licensing reciprocity

agreements, with respect to licenses issued by the department, to

the extent allowed by law.

(b) The department shall identify state laws that prevent

the department from entering into a reciprocity agreement with a

licensing authority in another state.

Sec. 51.552. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules

necessary to implement this subchapter. The rules must establish

procedures for:

(1) the department to 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) the department to enter into and implement

reciprocity agreements with licensing authorities in other states

that have licensing requirements substantially equivalent to this

state's requirements.

Sec. 51.553. REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each

odd-numbered year, the department shall submit to the governor and

the Legislative Budget Board a written report that:

(1) summarizes the department's efforts under Section

51.551, including a description of the extent to which this state's

licensing requirements exceed the requirements of other states;

(2) describes the department'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 license

reciprocity agreements as directed by this subchapter, including

any reduction of this state's licensing requirements that would

make more reciprocity agreements possible.

SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, the Texas

Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt the rules

required by Section 51.552, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Section 51.553, Occupations

Code, as added by this Act, the Texas Department of Licensing and

Regulation 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.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 11 was passed by the House on April

24, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0, 2 present, not

voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 11 was passed by the Senate on May 16,

2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: _____________________

Date

_____________________

Governor