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House bill would preserve temporary practice rights for out-of-state CPAs
Summary
Lawmakers heard support for House Bill 887, which would preserve Marylandpractice-privilege access for actively licensed CPAs from other jurisdictions who have passed the Uniform CPA Examination amid changing national licensure standards.
Delegate Chris Valderrama asked the Economic Matters Committee to give House Bill 887 a favorable report, saying the measure preserves temporary practice privileges for out-of-state certified public accountants who have passed the Uniform CPA Examination.
Valderrama told the committee the bill responds to an evolving national landscape in which some states are considering alternatives to the traditional 150-hour education requirement for CPA licensure and moving toward experience-based pathways. "House Bill 887 ensures that actively licensed CPAs from other states can continue to practice temporarily in our great state provided they have passed the uniform CPA examination," Valderrama said.
Rebecca Olson, CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs, told the panel that the mobility provision is "critical for the CPA profession and Maryland's economy" because it gives businesses timely access to financial expertise. She said the bill "modernizes Maryland's accountancy act to protect CPA practice mobility" and asked the committee for a favorable report. Nick Mannis, representing the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants, said the Maryland Board of Public Accountancy asked the association to submit the bill.
Committee members asked few questions during the presentation. No committee vote was recorded during the hearing.
The bill, as presented, would continue current practice-privilege provisions that allow nonresident CPAs whose home-state licensing is "substantially equivalent" to Maryland's qualifications to practice temporarily in Maryland despite other states adopting alternative licensure pathways.
Supporters said the bill protects Maryland businesses from losing access to out-of-state CPA services as other jurisdictions change education and licensure rules, while retaining oversight by the Maryland Board of Public Accountancy.
No formal action or vote on HB 887 was taken during the hearing; proponents urged a favorable report to the full committee.
