Senate Government Operations reviews OPR bill fiscal note, hears request for $170,000 mental‑health regulation post

The Senate Committee on Government Operations took testimony April 15 on a bill that would change licensing fees and other authorities for the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) and includes a one‑time $170,000 appropriation to fund an executive officer to oversee regulation of mental‑health professions.

The Joint Fiscal Office summarized the bill’s projected fiscal impacts and the Office of Professional Regulation answered committee questions about how changes would affect the professional regulation fund. Ted Farnett of the Joint Fiscal Office said, "This table summarizes the fiscal impacts of the bill," and walked members through estimates for fee changes and other provisions.

Why it matters: The bill would alter several licensing fees and OPR authorities that fund the agency’s special fund and would add a staff position intended to implement recent recommendations on mental‑health regulation. The fiscal adjustments and the appropriation affect how OPR will finance ongoing oversight and verification services used by employers and other states.

Most significant fiscal items

- Ve…