Occupational Licenses for Veterans and Service Members

22
58-1-313
63I-2-258
71A-1-201
0
Occupational Licenses for Veterans and Service Members
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Heidi Balderree
House Sponsor: Val L. Peterson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses provisions related to veterans and service members obtaining an
occupational license.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
requires the Division of Professional Licensing, in consultation with the Department of
Veterans and Military Affairs, to:
prepare a document, spreadsheet, or other resource available to the public that details
when a veteran or service member's past skills, experience, credentials, training, or
education obtained in the military are substantially equivalent to current required
training or education requirements for a license and can substitute for unfulfilled
licensure requirements; and
accept a veteran or service member's past substantially equivalent skills, experience,
credentials, training, or education obtained while in the military when granting a
license; and
includes a sunset provision for a report by the Division of Professional Licensing.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63I-2-258
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 277
71A-1-201
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 15
ENACTS:
58-1-313
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
58-1-313
is enacted to read:
58-1-313
. Veteran licensing.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"License" means an authorization that permits the holder to engage in the practice of
a profession regulated under this title.
(b)
"Service member" means the same as that term is defined in Section
71A-1-101
.
(2)
The division shall, in consultation with the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs:
(a)
identify skills, experience, credentials, training, and education that an individual can
obtain in the armed forces;
(b)
determine to what level the skills, experience, credentials, training, and education
described in Subsection
(2)(a)
are substantially equivalent to current requirements in
statute or administrative rule for a license and can substitute for the requirements; and
(c)
prepare and update as necessary a document, spreadsheet, or other resource
accessible by the public on the division's website detailing the information described
in Subsection
(2)(a)
and
(b)
.
(3)
If a veteran or service member applies for a license and does not meet the current
required training or education requirements established in statute or administrative rule
for the license, the division shall give credit to the veteran or service member for
relevant skills, experience, credentials, training, or education obtained while in the
armed forces based on the determination described in Subsection
(2)(b)
.
(4)
On or before November 1, 2028, the division shall provide a report the Business and
Labor Interim Committee regarding:
(a)
the number of applicants for a license who are veterans or service members that have
successfully been granted a license under this section; and
(b)
any legislative recommendations for changes to this section.
Section 2. Section
63I-2-258
is amended to read:
63I-2-258
. Repeal dates: Title 58.
Reserved.
Subsection
58-1-313(4)
, regarding a report by the Division of Professional
Licensing, is repealed January 1, 2029.
Section 3. Section
71A-1-201
is amended to read:
71A-1-201
. Department of Veterans and Military Affairs -- Creation --
Appointment of executive director -- Department responsibilities.
(1)
There is created the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs.
(2)
The governor shall appoint an executive director for the department who is subject to
Senate confirmation.
(3)
The executive director shall be a veteran.
(4)
The department shall:
(a)
conduct and supervise all veteran and military affairs activities as provided in this
title;
(b)
adopt rules in accordance with
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
Rulemaking Act
, to carry out the provisions of this title;
(c)
in accordance with Section
41-1a-418
:
(i)
determine which campaign or combat theater awards are eligible for a special
group license plate;
(ii)
verify that an applicant for a campaign or combat theater award special group
license plate is qualified to receive it; and
(iii)
provide an applicant that qualifies a form indicating the campaign or combat
theater award special group license plate for which the applicant qualifies;
(d)
maintain liaison with local, state, and federal veterans agencies and with Utah
veterans organizations;
(e)
provide current information to veterans, service members, their surviving spouses
and family members, and Utah veterans and military organizations on benefits they
are entitled to;
(f)
assist veterans, service members, and their families in applying for benefits and
services;
(g)
cooperate with other state entities in the receipt of information to create and maintain
a record of veterans in Utah;
(h)
create and administer a veterans assistance registry in accordance with
Chapter 5,
Veterans Assistance Registry
, with recommendations from the council, that provides
contact information to the qualified donors of materials and labor for certain qualified
recipients;
(i)
identify military-related issues, challenges, and opportunities, and develop plans for
addressing them;
(j)
develop, coordinate, and maintain relationships with military leaders of Utah military
installations, including the National Guard;
(k)
develop and maintain relationships with military-related organizations in Utah;
(l)
consult with municipalities and counties regarding compatible use plans as described
in Sections
10-20-620
and
17-79-616
;
(m)
enforce a food delivery dead zone as described in Section
13-80-201
;
(n)
work in conjunction with the Utah Homeless Services Board to create best practices
for helping veterans, as that term is defined in Section
68-3-12.5
, avoid homelessness;
(o)
provide services and benefits directly or indirectly to service members, veterans, and
families of service members and veterans, including services and benefits related to
claims, health care, employment, education, mental wellness, counseling, business,
housing, recognition, camaraderie, and other functions;
and
(p)
serve as the State Approving Agency under United States Code, Title 38, Veterans
Benefits
.
; and
(q)
consult with the Division of Professional Licensing regarding licensing for veterans
and service members as described in Section
58-1-313
.
(5)
(a)
The department may award grants for the purpose of supporting veteran and
military outreach, employment, education, healthcare, homelessness prevention, and
recognition events.
(b)
The department may award a grant described in Subsection
(5)(a)
to:
(i)
an institution of higher education listed in Section
53H-1-102
;
(ii)
a nonprofit organization involved in veterans or military-related activities; or
(iii)
a political subdivision of the state.
(c)
In accordance with
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act
, the
department shall make rules for the administration of grants, including establishing:
(i)
the form and process for submitting an application to the department;
(ii)
the method and criteria for selecting a grant recipient;
(iii)
the method and formula for determining a grant amount; and
(iv)
the reporting requirements of a grant recipient.
(6)
(a)
The department may:
(i)
receive gifts, contributions, and donations to support service members, veterans,
families of service members and veterans, and military missions, including
tangible objects and real property, if the department uses the gifts, contributions,
and donations for the benefit of, or in connection with, service members, veterans,
families of service members and veterans, or military missions; and
(ii)
in accordance with Title
63G, Chapter 3
, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
make rules related to the administration of gifts, contributions, and donations
described in Subsection
(6)(a)
.
(b)
A gift, contribution, or donation received by the department as described in
Subsection
(6)(a)
, does not revert to the General Fund and is considered non-lapsing
funds.
(7)
In accordance with
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act
, the
department may make rules related to:
(a)
the consultation with municipalities and counties regarding compatible use plans as
required in Subsection
(4)(l)
; and
(b)
criteria to evaluate whether a proposed land use is compatible with military
operations.
(8)
Nothing in this chapter alters or preempts any provisions of
Title 39A, National Guard
and Militia Act
, as specifically related to the National Guard.
Section 4.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
May 6, 2026
.
3-6-26 7:07 PM