August 26, 2025
Mr. Patronis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To provide for the portability of professional licenses of veterans and their spouses, and for other purposes.
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.