Conference committee inserts HB22‑73 and HB22‑74 into shell HB22‑80; motion passes unanimously

A legislative conference committee voted unanimously to remove the contents of House Bill 22‑80 and insert the provisions of House Bill 22‑73 and House Bill 22‑74. The motion to remove and insert was moved during the meeting and seconded by Senator Thompson.

Carly, a committee staff member, described HB22‑73 as amending multiple statutory cross‑references to add a citation to the Federal Register and to adopt the definitions of “veteran” and “disabled veteran” listed under 38 C.F.R. §3.7. "House bill 22 73 as, amended by the house committee would, add a citation to the federal register. 2 definitions for veteran and disabled veteran. It would include those groups of individuals listed under 38 CFR section 3.7, and it would list it within that references about 25 distinctive groups who are considered to perform active military, naval, air, or space service, and thereby deemed to be a veteran by the United States Congress," Carly said.

Carly summarized HB22‑74 as a technical cleanup to remove the word "active" before "military service member" in occupational licensure provisions. "This is the bill that removes active from before service member in, occupational licensure that would expedite licenses for spouses or military service members," Carly said. Committee members noted the change is intended to ensure National Guard members and reservists — and their spouses — are covered, because the word "active" had been omitted or inconsistently applied in some definitions.

Committee members asked whether other related measures could be included. Senators noted that two Senate bills referenced in earlier committee action — identified in the meeting as Senate Bill 200 (Purple Heart-related) and Senate Bill 106 (veterans ID) — were not conferenceable because they had not completed action on both floors. A committee member said those measures will need to be pursued early in the next session to be included.

The committee adopted the motion to remove the contents of HB22‑80 and insert HB22‑73 and HB22‑74. The presiding officer called for the vote; members responded "aye" and the chair announced the motion passed unanimously. A committee staff member said a conference committee report would be prepared and presented for signatures, "probably early tomorrow morning." The meeting then adjourned.

Votes at a glance: Motion to remove contents of House Bill 22‑80 and insert House Bill 22‑73 and House Bill 22‑74 — Passed (unanimous).

Background: HB22‑73, as described by staff, places the federal regulatory definition found at 38 C.F.R. §3.7 into state cross‑references and applies that definition across roughly a dozen statutory sections; HB22‑74 removes the adjective "active" from references to military service members in licensure statutes to include National Guard members and reservists and to expedite licensure for military spouses and service members.