Official Summary Text
This bill enacts the "Military Families Licensing Recognition Act," which requires an occupational licensing board to issue an occupational license in the occupation applied for and at the same practice level, as determined by the board, to a person who
pays all applicable fees and applies on a form established by the board. The form must require the person to swear or affirm, under penalties of perjury, that the person meets the following requirements:
(1) The person holds a current and valid occupational license issued by another state or the military in an occupation with a similar scope of practice.
(2) The person has held the occupational license in good standing for at least one year.
(3) The person was required to meet education, training, or experience standards, or to pass an examination to qualify for the occupational license.
(4) The person does not have a disqualifying criminal record under this state's law for the license.
(5) The person's occupational license was not revoked because of negligence or intentional misconduct related to the person's work in the occupation in any state or the military.
(6) The person did not surrender an occupational license because of negligence or intentional misconduct related to the person's work in the occupation in any state or the military.
(7) The person does not have a complaint, allegation, or investigation pending that relates to unprofessional conduct or an alleged crime. If the person has a complaint, allegation, or investigation pending, the board in this state shall not issue or deny an occupational license to the person until the complaint, allegation, or investigation is resolved, or the person otherwise satisfies the criteria for licensure in this state to the satisfaction of the board in this state.
This bill requires the board to issue an occupational license in the occupation applied for and at the same practice level, as determined by the board, to a person who pays all applicable fees and applies on a form established by the board. The form mus
t require the person to swear or affirm, under penalties of perjury, that the person (i) has worked for at least three years in the lawful occupation and (ii) satisfies (4)-(7) above.
LICENSE DECISION
This bill requires an occupational licensing board to issue an occupational license within 10 business days after receiving the application. The board must develop criteria to investigate and verify the accuracy of all of the applications it receives pr
ior to the board's issuance of a license. If, upon further investigation, the board finds the sworn statement included in a person's application is invalid and gives notice to the person in accordance with the board's rules, then the board may order the
pe
rson to cease working. The board may report a perjurious application to the attorney general for possible prosecution.
STATE LAWS AND JURISDICTION
This bill provides that a person who obtains an occupational license pursuant to this bill is subject to the laws regulating the occupation in this state and the jurisdiction of the applicable board in this state.
LIMITATIONS
This bill provides that an occupational license issued pursuant to this bill is valid only in this state. An occupational license does not make the person eligible to work in another state under an interstate compact or reciprocity agreement unless othe
rwise provided in law. Additionally, this bill does not do any of the following:
Prohibit a person from applying for an occupational license under another law of this state.
Prevent this state from entering into a licensing compact or reciprocity agreement with another state or foreign country.
Prevent this state from recognizing occupational credentials issued by a private certification organization, international organization, or other entity.
Apply to an occupation regulated by the state supreme court.
Require a private certification organization to grant or deny private certification to any individual.
NOTICE
This bill requires a board to display prominently on its website, applications, and related communications the following notice: "Pursuant to the Military Families Licensing Recognition Act, active and retired military personnel and their families may qu
alify for an occupational license based on an occupational specialty, license, and work experience in the military or other states."
ON MARCH 19, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1692, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, require a licensing authority in this state to recognize a covered license issued by a licensing authority of another state that is held by a service member or spouse of a service member who relocates to this s
tate pursuant to military orders received by the service member or who relocates to a state contiguous with this state and desires to work within this state, upon approval of the service member's or spouse's application for license recognition. As used i
n
this amendment, a "covered license" means a professional or occupational license that, with respect to a scope of practice, (i) is in good standing with the licensing authority that issued the license; (ii) has not been revoked or had discipline imposed b
y any state; (iii) does not have an investigation relating to unprofessional conduct pending in any state relating to the license; and (iv) has not been voluntarily surrendered while under investigation for unprofessional conduct in any state.
This amendment provides that a person whose covered license is recognized pursuant to this amendment is subject to the laws regulating the profession in this state and the jurisdiction of the applicable board in this state.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
This amendment authorizes a service member or a service member's spouse who holds a covered license to apply for recognition of the covered license in this state by submitting an application to the appropriate licensing authority that includes all of the
following:
Proof of military orders or other official documentation of the service member's military orders, including an electronic communication, memorandum, or similar official record.
If the applicant is the spouse of a service member, a copy of the marriage certificate or a copy of the applicant's uniformed services identification (USID) card.
A notarized affidavit affirming that (i) the applicant is the person described and identified in the application; (ii) all statements made in the application are true and complete; (iii) the applicant had read and understands the requirements to receive a license and the scope of practice of such license in this state; (iv) the applicant certifies that the applicant meets and agrees to comply with the requirements to receive a license in this state; and (v) the applicant is in good standing in all states in which the applicant holds or has held a license.
This amendment authorizes a licensing authority to require an applicant to submit to a background check. Further, in determining whether to utilize the process provided in this amendment or an existing licensure process, procedure, rule, or policy, a li
censing authority must utilize the method that will allow the service member or the spouse of the service member to obtain a license within the shortest amount of time.
LIMITATIONS
This amendment clarifies that it does not prohibit a person from applying for a professional license under another law, process, procedure, rule, or policy of a licensing authority of this state. Further, the amendment does not prevent this state from e
ntering into a licensing compact or reciprocity agreement with another state or foreign country or from recognizing occupational credentials issued by a private certification organization, international organization, or other entity.
Further, this amendment clarifies that it does not apply to an occupation regulated by the state supreme court and does not require a private certification organization to grant or deny private certification to any individual.
NOTICE
This amendment requires a licensing authority to display on its website, applications, and related communications the following notice: "Pursuant to the Military Families Licensing Recognition Act, active and retired military service members and their sp
ouses may qualify for an in-state recognition of a professional license issued in another state."
ON APRIL 21, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1692 FOR HOUSE BILL 1677, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1692, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes:
Redefines the terms "covered license", "license", and "servicemember," as used in this bill, to have the same meanings as federal law.
Redefines the term "licensing authority," as used in this bill, to mean any state regulatory board, commission, council, or committee in the executive branch of state government established by statute or rule that issues any license, certificate, registration, certification, permit, or other similar document for the purpose of entry into, or regulation of, any occupational or professional group.
Requires a licensing authority to comply with federal law with respect to a servicemember or spouse of a servicemember who holds a covered license and relocates to this state pursuant to military orders received by the servicemember, or a servicemember or spouse of a servicemember who holds a covered license, relocates to a state contiguous to this state pursuant to military orders received by the servicemember, and seeks to work in this state.
Removes provisions pertaining to the application for license recognition, the state laws and jurisdiction, and the validity of existing licensure pathways and use of the shortest licensure pathway.
Provides that the bill does not prohibit a servicemember from applying for an occupational license under another law of this state, prevent this state from entering into a licensure compact or reciprocity agreement with another state or foreign country, prevent this state from recognizing occupational credentials issued by a private certification organization, an international organization, or another entity, apply to a profession regulated by the state supreme court, require a private certification organization to grant or deny a private certification to an individual, or apply to a servicemember or spouse of a servicemember who holds a covered license that is subject to an interstate compact to which this state is a party.
Revises the provision pertaining to notice to provide that each licensing authority must prominently display the following notice on the licensing authority's website, applications, and related communications: "Pursuant to the Military Families Licensing Recognition Act, an active military servicemember or spouse of an active military servicemember may qualify for recognition in this state of an occupational license issued by another state."
ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #1.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 1677
By Eldridge
SENATE BILL 1692
By Massey
SB1692
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AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 58; Title 62; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to
military family occupational licensing.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, is amended by adding the following
as a new chapter:
58-10-101. Short title.
This chapter is known and may be cited as the "Military Families Licensing
Recognition Act."
58-10-102. Chapter definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) "Lawful occupation" or "occupation" means a course of conduct,
pursuit, or profession that includes the sale of goods or services that are not
themselves illegal to sell irrespective of whether the individual selling them is
subject to an occupational regulation;
(2) "Military" means the armed forces of the United States, including the
air force, army, coast guard, marine corps, navy, space force, national guard,
and all reserve components and auxiliaries, including the reserves and militia of
any United States territory or state;
(3) "Occupational license" means a governmental authorization that
allows an individual to engage in a lawful occupation, including a military
occupational specialty, and other forms of government certification required to
work legally in a lawful occupation;
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(4) "Occupational licensing board" or "board" means this state, an
agency, board, department, or unit of this state, or a subdivision of this state that
regulates a lawful occupation and issues an occupational license to an individual;
(5) "Person" means an active or retired member of the military, or a
person who is married to or is a dependent of an active or retired member of the
military; and
(6) "Scope of practice" means the procedures, actions, processes, and
work that a person may perform under an occupational license issued in this
state.
58-10-103. Recognition.
(a) Notwithstanding another law, an occupational licensing board shall issue an
occupational license in the occupation applied for and at the same practice level, as
determined by the board, to a person who pays all applicable fees and applies on a form
established by the board. The form must require the person to swear or affirm, under
penalties of perjury, that the person meets the following requirements:
(1) The person holds a current and valid occupational license issued by
another state or the military in an occupation with a similar scope of practice;
(2) The person has held the occupational license in good standing for at
least one (1) year;
(3) The person was required to meet education, training, or experience
standards, or to pass an examination to qualify for the occupational license;
(4) The person does not have a disqualifying criminal record under this
state's law for the license;
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(5) The person's occupational license was not revoked because of
negligence or intentional misconduct related to the person's work in the
occupation in any state or the military;
(6) The person did not surrender an occupational license because of
negligence or intentional misconduct related to the person's work in the
occupation in any state or the military; and
(7) The person does not have a complaint, allegation, or investigation
pending that relates to unprofessional conduct or an alleged crime. If the person
has a complaint, allegation, or investigation pending, the board in this state shall
not issue or deny an occupational license to the person until the complaint,
allegation, or investigation is resolved, or the person otherwise satisfies the
criteria for licensure in this state to the satisfaction of the board in this state.
(b) The board shall issue an occupational license in the occupation applied for
and at the same practice level, as determined by the board, to a person who pays all
applicable fees and applies on a form established by the board. The form must require
the person to swear or affirm, under penalties of perjury, that the person meets the
following requirements:
(1) The person has worked for at least three (3) years in the lawful
occupation; and
(2) The person satisfies subdivisions (a)(4)-(7).
58-10-104. License decision.
(a) An occupational licensing board shall issue an occupational license within
ten (10) business days after receiving the application.
(b) The board must develop criteria to investigate and verify the accuracy of all
of the applications it receives prior to the board's issuance of a license.
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(c) If, upon further investigation, the board finds the sworn statement included in
a person's application is invalid and gives notice to the person in accordance with the
board's rules, the board may order the person to cease working. The board may report
a perjurious application to the attorney general and reporter for possible prosecution.
58-10-105. State laws and jurisdiction.
A person who obtains an occupational license pursuant to this chapter is subject
to the laws regulating the occupation in this state and the jurisdiction of the applicable
board in this state.
58-10-106. Limitations.
(a) An occupational license issued pursuant to this chapter is valid only in this
state. An occupational license does not make the person eligible to work in another
state under an interstate compact or reciprocity agreement unless otherwise provided in
law.
(b) This chapter does not:
(1) Prohibit a person from applying for an occupational license under
another law of this state;
(2) Prevent this state from entering into a licensing compact or reciprocity
agreement with another state or foreign country;
(3) Prevent this state from recognizing occupational credentials issued by
a private certification organization, international organization, or other entity;
(4) Apply to an occupation regulated by the state supreme court; or
(5) Require a private certification organization to grant or deny private
certification to any individual.
58-10-107. Notice.
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A board shall display prominently the following on its website, applications, and
related communications:
Pursuant to the Military Families Licensing Recognition Act, active and retired
military personnel and their families may qualify for an occupational license based
on an occupational specialty, license, and work experience in the military or other
states.
SECTION 2. The headings in this act are for reference purposes only and do not
constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is
requested to include the headings in any compilation or publication containing this act.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.