Committee hears bill to set statewide baseline for professional licensure procedures

Committee members and agency directors heard more than two hours of testimony on Senate Bill 2395, a package of licensing reforms intended to create consistent procedures across the state’s professional licensing boards and speed licensure for qualified out‑of‑state applicants. State Sen. David Hogue introduced the bill and said it builds on a Department of Labor interim study of licensing boards.

The measure would require boards that license workers under Title 43 to adopt baseline processes such as online application availability, prompt review of clean applications and reporting to the labor department. Proponents said the changes are designed to support workforce recruitment and modernize board practices; one judicial branch board opposed inclusion in the bill.

State Sen. David Hogue, who sponsored the bill, told the committee he filed the legislation after an earlier session directed the labor commissioner to study licensing boards. "I'm here, to testify in support of Senate bill, 23 95," Hogue said, and he described the measure as an effort "to establish a baseline, for all licensing boards and commissions." He said some boards already meet the proposed standards and supported the bill, while others need clearer operating expectations.

Nathan Swihovic, the former labor commissioner who…