Committee approves joining physician assistant licensure compact to ease workforce mobility

The joint policy committee voted to advance House Bill 1622 to join the physician assistant (PA) licensure compact, a multistate agreement designed to recognize licenses across member states.

Krista Fremming, Medical Services Division, told the committee the compact would reduce administrative barriers and increase access to primary care providers in rural and underserved areas. She said joining the compact was part of the state’s rural health transformation strategy and that the state expected approximately $3,480,000 in federal funding allocation tied to implementation assumptions the application used.

Sponsors and committee members said the bill mirrors prior compact language that was considered in an earlier session and that the measure largely replicates language used by other states to ensure uniformity. Committee members noted compacts must be enacted in identical form so licensure portability functions consistently among member states.

A motion for 'do pass' was offered, the clerk called roll and the committee recorded a vote in favor of advancing the compact. Supporters said the measure would particularly benefit military families and critical‑access hospitals by streamlining licensure portability.