Subcommittee advances bill to broaden composition of behavior analysis advisory board

House Bill 465 was presented by Delegate Cohen as a technical change to the advisory board on behavior analysis that would allow three board members to be either licensed behavior analysts or licensed assistant behavior analysts who have practiced for at least three years. Supporters said the change responds to persistent vacancies and the low share of assistants among licensees.

"This is very much in line with a lot of the bills that you've been seeing this session of boards that struggle to keep membership," Delegate Cohen said, describing the revision as a practical step to keep the board "full" and to give assistant behavior analysts "a seat at the table." Christie Van Gogh, who identified herself as a licensed behavior analyst, testified that an assistant seat has been vacant since 2021 and that assistants are a small share of licensees and often do not meet the prior three‑year requirement for the assistant seat.

The committee moved and properly seconded to report the bill to the full committee; the motion passed on a voice vote and was recorded as 8–0 in favor.

If advanced by the full committee and enacted, the change would relax the statutory phrasing that previously required two licensed behavior analysts and one licensed assistant behavior analyst with three years' experience so that three qualified members may be filled by either category of licensee. The committee did not take up amendments during the subcommittee hearing.

The subcommittee record shows unanimous recommendation to report HB 465 to the full committee; next steps include full committee consideration.