HR 5035
Veteran and Spouse Licensing Flexibility Act of 2025
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Bill overview
This bill, the Veteran and Spouse Licensing Flexibility Act of 2025, aims to make it easier for veterans and their spouses to use professional licenses they already hold when they move to a new state. It establishes a process for veterans and their spouses to apply for a ‘covered license’ to be recognized in their new state of residence, streamlining the licensing process and reducing barriers to employment. The act also provides for temporary licenses if a state cannot immediately process an application.
Key provisions
- Veterans and their spouses can apply for their existing professional licenses to be recognized in a new state within 36 months of discharge/release.
- Applicants must provide documentation such as DD Form 214 and marriage certificate (if applicable).
- Licensing authorities can conduct background checks on applicants.
- States must issue temporary licenses if they cannot process applications within 30 days.
- The bill defines key terms like ‘covered license,’ ‘discharge or release,’ and ‘veteran.’
- The act specifies requirements for the application process, including notarized affidavits.
- Spouses of veterans must provide military orders specifying the spouse's inclusion in the veteran's discharge paperwork.
- The bill clarifies that a ‘spouse of a veteran’ must be specifically named on the veteran’s discharge orders.
Who is affected
- Veterans
- Veterans' spouses
- Professional licensing boards and commissions
Sponsors
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 5035
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To provide for the portability of professional licenses of veterans and their spouses, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Veteran and Spouse Licensing Flexibility Act of 2025
.
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).
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.
An application described in this subsection includes the following:
A copy of the veteran’s DD Form 214, Certificate of Uniformed Service or any superseding form adopted for this same purpose.
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.
A notarized affidavit affirming, under the penalty of law, that—
all statements made in the application are true, correct, and complete;
In this section:
The term Armed Forces has the meaning given such term in section 101(10) of title 38.
The term covered license means a professional license that, with respect to a scope of practice—
is in good standing with the licensing authority that issued such license;
has not been revoked or had discipline imposed by any State;
does not have an investigation relating to unprofessional conduct pending in any State relating to it; and
has not been voluntarily surrendered while under investigation for unprofessional conduct in any State.
The term discharge or release includes—
retirement from the Armed Forces, and
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.
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.
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.
The term licensing authority means any State board, commission, department, or agency that—
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
is authorized to issue licenses.
The term scope of practice means the defined parameters of various duties or services that may be provided by an individual under a license.
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.
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.