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

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Governor