Relating to the occupational licensing of military service members, military veterans, and military spouses, the official text

H.B. No. 5629

AN ACT

relating to the occupational licensing of military service

members, military veterans, and military spouses.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 55.004(a) and (d), Occupations Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(a) A state agency that issues a license shall issue [adopt

rules for the issuance of] the license to an applicant who is a

military service member, military veteran, or military spouse and:

(1) holds a current license issued by another state

[jurisdiction] that is similar in scope of practice [has licensing

requirements that are substantially equivalent] to the

[requirements for the] license in this state and is in good standing

with that state's licensing authority; or

(2) within the five years preceding the application

date held the license in this state.

(d) A state agency that issues a license that has a

residency requirement for license eligibility may not [shall]

adopt rules requiring [regarding] documentation [necessary] for an

applicant who is a military service member, military veteran, or

military spouse to establish residency for purposes of this section

[subsection, including by providing to the agency a copy of the

permanent change of station order for the applicant or the

applicant's spouse].

SECTION 2. Section 55.0041, Occupations Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (a), (b), (d), (d-1), and (e) and adding

Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a military service

member or military spouse may engage in a business or occupation for

which a license is required without obtaining the applicable

license if the member or spouse [is] currently holds a license

similar in scope of practice issued by the licensing authority of

another state and is [licensed] in good standing with [by another

jurisdiction] that [has] licensing authority [requirements that

are substantially equivalent to the requirements for the license in

this state].

(b) Before engaging in the practice of the business or

occupation under Subsection (a), the military service member or

military spouse must submit an application to the applicable state

agency in the form the agency prescribes that includes:

(1) a copy [notify the applicable state agency] of the

member's military orders showing relocation to [or spouse's intent

to practice in] this state;

(2) if the applicant is a military spouse, a copy of

the military spouse's marriage license [submit to the agency proof

of the member's or spouse's residency in this state in accordance

with rules adopted under Section 55.004(d) and a copy of the

member's or spouse's military identification card]; and

(3) a notarized affidavit affirming under penalty of

perjury [receive from the agency confirmation] that:

(A) the applicant is the person described and

identified in the application [the agency has verified the member's

or spouse's license in the other jurisdiction]; [and]

(B) all statements in the application are true,

correct, and complete;

(C) the applicant understands the scope of

practice for the applicable license in this state and will not

perform outside of that scope of practice; and

(D) the applicant is in good standing in each

state in which the applicant holds or has held an applicable license

[the member or spouse is authorized to engage in the business or

occupation in accordance with this section].

(b-1) Not later than the 10th business day after the date

the agency receives an application under Subsection (b), the agency

shall notify the applicant that:

(1) the agency recognizes the applicant's out-of-state

license;

(2) the application is incomplete; or

(3) the agency is unable to recognize the applicant's

out-of-state license because the agency does not issue a license

similar in scope of practice to the applicant's license.

(d) A military service member or military spouse may engage

in the business or occupation under the authority of this section

only for the period during which the military service member or,

with respect to a military spouse, the military service member to

whom the spouse is married is stationed at a military installation

in this state [but not to exceed three years from the date the

member or spouse receives the confirmation described by Subsection

(b)(3)].

(d-1) In [Notwithstanding Subsection (d), in] the event of a

divorce or similar event that affects a person's status as a

military spouse, the former spouse may continue to engage in the

business or occupation under the authority of this section until

the third anniversary of the date the spouse submitted the

application required [received the confirmation described] by

Subsection (b) [(b)(3)].

(e) A state agency that issues a license shall adopt rules

to implement this section. The rules must establish a process for

the agency to[:

[(1)] identify, with respect to each type of license

issued by the agency, the states [jurisdictions] that issue

licenses similar in scope of practice to those issued by the agency

[have licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent to

the requirements for the license 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 Subsections (b)(1) and (2), verify that the member or

spouse is licensed in good standing in a jurisdiction described by

Subdivision (1)].

SECTION 3. Chapter 55, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding Sections 55.0042 and 55.0043 to read as follows:

Sec. 55.0042. DETERMINATION OF GOOD STANDING. For purposes

of this chapter, a person is in good standing with another state's

licensing authority if the person:

(1) holds a license that is current, has not been

suspended or revoked, and has not been voluntarily surrendered

during an investigation for unprofessional conduct;

(2) has not been disciplined by the licensing

authority with respect to the license or person's practice of the

occupation for which the license is issued; and

(3) is not currently under investigation by the

licensing authority for unprofessional conduct related to the

person's license or profession.

Sec. 55.0043. COMPLAINTS. (a) A state agency that issues a

license or recognizes an out-of-state license under this chapter

shall maintain a record of each complaint made against a military

service member, military veteran, or military spouse to whom the

agency issues a license or who holds an out-of-state license the

agency recognizes.

(b) A state agency shall publish at least quarterly on the

agency's Internet website the information maintained under

Subsection (a), including a general description of the disposition

of each complaint.

SECTION 4. Section 55.005(a), Occupations Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) A state agency that issues a license shall, not later

than the 10th business [30th] day after the date a military service

member, military veteran, or military spouse files an application

for a license:

(1) process the application; and

(2) issue the license to an applicant who qualifies

for the license under Section 55.004.

SECTION 5. Section 55.009, Occupations Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 55.009. LICENSE APPLICATION AND EXAMINATION FEES.

Notwithstanding any other law, a state agency that issues a license

shall waive the license application and examination fees paid to

the state for an applicant who is[:

[(1) a military service member or military veteran

whose military service, training, or education substantially meets

all of the requirements for the license; or

[(2)] a military service member, military veteran, or

military spouse [who holds a current license issued by another

jurisdiction that has licensing requirements that are

substantially equivalent to the requirements for the license in

this state].

SECTION 6. Section 55.0041(f), Occupations Code, is

repealed.

SECTION 7. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, a state agency, as defined by Section 55.001,

Occupations Code, shall adopt, modify, or repeal the rules

necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act.

SECTION 8. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

an application for a license filed with a state agency, as defined

by Section 55.001, Occupations Code, on or after the effective date

of this Act. An application for a license filed before the

effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect

immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 5629 was passed by the House on May

16, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 129, Nays 2, 2 present, not

voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 5629 was passed by the Senate on May

27, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: _____________________

Date

_____________________

Governor