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Senators approve measures to simplify licensure for out-of-state marriage and family therapists
Summary
Lawmakers adopted amendments to LB257 to create streamlined licensing for out-of-state licensed marriage and family therapists and clarify scope language for occupational therapy provisions added by amendment. Amendments were adopted unanimously and the bill advanced.
Senator Quick introduced LB257 as a measure to improve licensure portability for licensed marriage and family therapists (MFTs), proposing that an applicant with a valid, unrestricted out-of-state MFT license be issued a Nebraska license after completing an application, paying fees and passing a Nebraska jurisprudence exam. "If you are a licensed MFT in another state and in good standing, then you should be able to move to Nebraska without taking extra steps to get licensed," Quick said on the floor.
The Health and Human Services Committee reported the bill favorably (7–0), and Senator Quick brought two floor amendments that received unanimous support. AM 08:50 clarifies that an equivalent license will be issued to applicants already holding an out-of-state full and unrestricted license and streamlines the process; the sponsor said the amendment resulted from conversations with the Department of Health and Human Services. AM 8 66, brought by Senator Hansen with Quick’s approval, updates occupational therapy scope-language clarifications (the amendment was described as the introducer's LB630 language incorporated by request of the Nebraska Occupational Therapy Association) and also drew no opposition in committee.
Both amendments were adopted by voice and recorded votes (AM 08:50 recorded as 42 ayes, no nays; AM 8 66 recorded as 43 ayes, no nays), and the Legislature advanced LB257 to the next stage (recorded advancement vote 43–0). Sponsors said the change will help address workforce shortages by easing licensure portability for qualified therapists.
Because the amendments drew no opposition and the bill was reported out of committee unanimously, proponents said the measure aims primarily to make Nebraska more competitive in recruiting licensed MFTs and to align state practice with the AMFT model portability approach adopted in other states.
