H.R. 5035

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5035 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5035

To provide for the portability of professional licenses of veterans and 
their spouses, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 26, 2025

Mr. Patronis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To provide for the portability of professional licenses of veterans and 
their spouses, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran and Spouse Licensing 
Flexibility Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. PORTABILITY OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES OF VETERANS AND THEIR 
SPOUSES UPON DISCHARGE OR RELEASE.

(a) In General.--If a veteran or the spouse of a veteran has a 
covered license and relocates residence within 36 months of the 
veteran's discharge or release date in a State other than the State of 
the licensing authority that issued the covered license, such covered 
license shall be considered valid for the scope of practice in the 
State of the new residence if such veteran or spouse of a veteran 
submits to the licensing authority of such State an application 
described in subsection (c).
(b) Temporary Licenses.--If a licensing authority is required to 
consider a covered license valid under subsection (a) but cannot carry 
out such requirement during the 30 days after receiving an application 
described in subsection (c), the licensing authority must issue to the 
applicant a temporary license that confers the same rights, privileges, 
and responsibilities as a permanent license.
(c) Application.--An application described in this subsection 
includes the following:
(1) A copy of the veteran's DD Form 214, Certificate of 
Uniformed Service or any superseding form adopted for this same 
purpose.
(2) If the applicant is the spouse of a veteran: (1) a copy 
of the marriage certificate; (2) and a copy of military orders 
effectuating the discharge or release of the veteran wherein 
the spouse is specified on the orders effectuating the 
discharge or release of the veteran.
(3) A notarized affidavit affirming, under the penalty of 
law, that--
(A) the veteran or spouse of a veteran is the 
person described and identified in the application;
(B) all statements made in the application are 
true, correct, and complete;
(C) the veteran or spouse of a veteran has read and 
understands the requirements to receive a license, and 
the scope of practice, of the State of the licensing 
authority;
(D) the veteran or spouse of a veteran certifies 
that the veteran or spouse of a veteran meets and shall 
comply with requirements described in subparagraph (C); 
and
(E) the veteran or spouse of a veteran is in good 
standing in all States in which the veteran or spouse 
of a veteran holds or has held a license.
(d) Background Checks.--A licensing authority that receives an 
application described in subsection (c) may conduct a background check 
of the veteran or spouse of a veteran before carrying out subsection 
(a) or (b).
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``Armed Forces'' has the meaning given such 
term in section 101(10) of title 38.
(2) The term ``covered license'' means a professional 
license that, with respect to a scope of practice--
(A) is in good standing with the licensing 
authority that issued such license;
(B) has not been revoked or had discipline imposed 
by any State;
(C) does not have an investigation relating to 
unprofessional conduct pending in any State relating to 
it; and
(D) has not been voluntarily surrendered while 
under investigation for unprofessional conduct in any 
State.
(3) The term ``discharge or release'' includes--
(A) retirement from the Armed Forces, and
(B) the satisfactory completion of the period of 
active Armed Forces service for which a person was 
obligated at the time of entry into such service in the 
case of a person who, due to enlistment or 
reenlistment, was not awarded a discharge or release 
from such period of service at the time of such 
completion thereof and who, at such time, would 
otherwise have been eligible for the award of a 
discharge or release under honorable conditions 
specified on the veteran's DD Form 214, Certificate of 
Uniformed Service or any superseding form adopted for 
this same purpose.
(4) The term ``discharge or release date'' means the 
``Separation date this Period'' specified on the veteran's DD 
Form 214, Certificate of Uniformed Service or any superseding 
form adopted for this same purpose.
(5) The term ``license'' means any license, certificate, or 
other evidence of qualification that an individual is required 
to obtain before the individual may engage in, or represent 
himself or herself to be a member of, a particular profession.
(6) The term ``licensing authority'' means any State board, 
commission, department, or agency that--
(A) is established in the State for the primary 
purpose of regulating the entry of persons into or the 
conduct of persons within, a particular profession; and
(B) is authorized to issue licenses.
(7) The term ``scope of practice'' means the defined 
parameters of various duties or services that may be provided 
by an individual under a license.
(8) The term ``spouse of a veteran'' has the meaning given 
such term in section 101(g)(5) of title 10 provided such spouse 
is specifically named on the orders effectuating the discharge 
or release of the veteran from the Armed Forces.
(9) The term ``veteran'' means a person who honorably 
served in the active Armed Forces and who was discharged or 
released therefrom as documented on the individual's DD Form 
214, Certificate of Uniformed Service or any superseding form 
adopted for this same purpose.
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