By: Phelan (Senate Sponsor - Middleton) H.B. No. 11          (In the Senate - Received from the House April 24, 2025;   May 5, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Business &   Commerce; May 13, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote:     Yeas 11, Nays 0; May 13, 2025, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   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.     * * * * *