[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5035 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5035
To provide for the portability of professional licenses of veterans and
their spouses, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 26, 2025
Mr. Patronis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the portability of professional licenses of veterans and
their spouses, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran and Spouse Licensing
Flexibility Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. PORTABILITY OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES OF VETERANS AND THEIR
SPOUSES UPON DISCHARGE OR RELEASE.
(a) In General.--If a veteran or the spouse of a veteran has a
covered license and relocates residence within 36 months of the
veteran's discharge or release date in a State other than the State of
the licensing authority that issued the covered license, such covered
license shall be considered valid for the scope of practice in the
State of the new residence if such veteran or spouse of a veteran
submits to the licensing authority of such State an application
described in subsection (c).
(b) Temporary Licenses.--If a licensing authority is required to
consider a covered license valid under subsection (a) but cannot carry
out such requirement during the 30 days after receiving an application
described in subsection (c), the licensing authority must issue to the
applicant a temporary license that confers the same rights, privileges,
and responsibilities as a permanent license.
(c) Application.--An application described in this subsection
includes the following:
(1) A copy of the veteran's DD Form 214, Certificate of
Uniformed Service or any superseding form adopted for this same
purpose.
(2) If the applicant is the spouse of a veteran: (1) a copy
of the marriage certificate; (2) and a copy of military orders
effectuating the discharge or release of the veteran wherein
the spouse is specified on the orders effectuating the
discharge or release of the veteran.
(3) A notarized affidavit affirming, under the penalty of
law, that--
(A) the veteran or spouse of a veteran is the
person described and identified in the application;
(B) all statements made in the application are
true, correct, and complete;
(C) the veteran or spouse of a veteran has read and
understands the requirements to receive a license, and
the scope of practice, of the State of the licensing
authority;
(D) the veteran or spouse of a veteran certifies
that the veteran or spouse of a veteran meets and shall
comply with requirements described in subparagraph (C);
and
(E) the veteran or spouse of a veteran is in good
standing in all States in which the veteran or spouse
of a veteran holds or has held a license.
(d) Background Checks.--A licensing authority that receives an
application described in subsection (c) may conduct a background check
of the veteran or spouse of a veteran before carrying out subsection
(a) or (b).
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``Armed Forces'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101(10) of title 38.
(2) The term ``covered license'' means a professional
license that, with respect to a scope of practice--
(A) is in good standing with the licensing
authority that issued such license;
(B) has not been revoked or had discipline imposed
by any State;
(C) does not have an investigation relating to
unprofessional conduct pending in any State relating to
it; and
(D) has not been voluntarily surrendered while
under investigation for unprofessional conduct in any
State.
(3) The term ``discharge or release'' includes--
(A) retirement from the Armed Forces, and
(B) the satisfactory completion of the period of
active Armed Forces service for which a person was
obligated at the time of entry into such service in the
case of a person who, due to enlistment or
reenlistment, was not awarded a discharge or release
from such period of service at the time of such
completion thereof and who, at such time, would
otherwise have been eligible for the award of a
discharge or release under honorable conditions
specified on the veteran's DD Form 214, Certificate of
Uniformed Service or any superseding form adopted for
this same purpose.
(4) The term ``discharge or release date'' means the
``Separation date this Period'' specified on the veteran's DD
Form 214, Certificate of Uniformed Service or any superseding
form adopted for this same purpose.
(5) The term ``license'' means any license, certificate, or
other evidence of qualification that an individual is required
to obtain before the individual may engage in, or represent
himself or herself to be a member of, a particular profession.
(6) The term ``licensing authority'' means any State board,
commission, department, or agency that--
(A) is established in the State for the primary
purpose of regulating the entry of persons into or the
conduct of persons within, a particular profession; and
(B) is authorized to issue licenses.
(7) The term ``scope of practice'' means the defined
parameters of various duties or services that may be provided
by an individual under a license.
(8) The term ``spouse of a veteran'' has the meaning given
such term in section 101(g)(5) of title 10 provided such spouse
is specifically named on the orders effectuating the discharge
or release of the veteran from the Armed Forces.
(9) The term ``veteran'' means a person who honorably
served in the active Armed Forces and who was discharged or
released therefrom as documented on the individual's DD Form
214, Certificate of Uniformed Service or any superseding form
adopted for this same purpose.
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