The bill, H.B. No. 2498, aims to amend the Occupations Code in Texas regarding the impact of criminal convictions on a person's eligibility for occupational licenses. It introduces new sections, specifically Sections 53.004 and 53.005, which require licensing authorities to provide notice in application forms and on their websites about how prior criminal convictions may affect an applicant's ability to obtain a license. Additionally, it mandates that licensing authorities maintain records of applications received, approved, and denied, particularly those denied due to criminal convictions, and submit annual reports to the legislature.

Furthermore, the bill modifies existing sections to clarify the criteria for determining whether a conviction directly relates to the duties of a licensed occupation. It establishes that licensing authorities must find by a preponderance of the evidence that certain factors support their decisions regarding license denial or revocation. The bill also introduces a new burden of proof for licensing authorities in hearings related to their decisions. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and apply to actions taken by licensing authorities from January 1, 2026, onward.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 53.021, Occupations Code 53.022, Occupations Code 53.023 (Occupations Code 53)
House Committee Report: Occupations Code 53.021, Occupations Code 53.022, Occupations Code 53.023 (Occupations Code 53)
Engrossed: Occupations Code 53.021, Occupations Code 53.022, Occupations Code 53.023 (Occupations Code 53)