HB 11

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