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Panel hears plan for web portal to speed licensing for veterans and military spouses

House Executive Departments and Administration Committee · March 25, 2026

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Summary

The committee considered HB/SB 656, which would create a web-based portal to help transfer occupational licenses for veterans and military spouses. Proponents said digital verification tools used elsewhere can cut relicensing times (a national average cited at about 41 days); OPLC cautioned that the state agency should not perform front-end advising that creates a conflict with licensing duties and suggested a veterans-affairs office host the facilitation service.

Lawmakers heard testimony on HB/SB 656, a bill to establish a web-based portal to streamline occupational-licensing reciprocity for veterans and military spouses.

Supporters including Kevin Grady (State Veterans Advisory Committee) and Trevor Cornwell (Aspire Technologies) described how verified digital credentials and a portal that maps military occupational specialties (MOS) and other out-of-state credentials can shorten relicensing times and reduce disruption for military families moving between states. Cornwell said jurisdictions that implemented similar digital tools have cut relicensure waiting times dramatically in some cases and that an average national relicensure delay is about 41 days.

Dee Juris, executive director of the Office of Professional Licensing and Certification (OPLC), told the committee there are already statutes and rules to facilitate veterans’ licensure and that OPLC's rule framework contemplates 30-day processing for complete applications; when staffing is sufficient some applications turn around in one to two weeks. Juris also cautioned against the licensing office acting as the front-end adviser that prepares applications because that could create a conflict—an outside facilitator or the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services could host a concierge function instead.

Committee members asked about scope, whether the portal should be open to all applicants, and about funding and technical integration with OPLC systems. Proponents said the portal could be designed to export a completed package that OPLC can ingest.

What happens next: Questions remain about whether the portal should be limited to veterans and spouses or extended more broadly, how to integrate with OPLC’s existing system, and whether statutory changes are needed for technical interfaces. The committee closed the hearing and may consider work-session language.