Sunday, August 4, 2024

Florida's Occupational Licensing Reform: A Boom For Skilled Workers

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In the 2024 legislative session, Governor Ron DeSantis and state lawmakers in Florida endeavored to implement pro-growth policies aimed at reducing the cost of state government and enhancing the state's attractiveness to potential residents, workers, and families. A notable example of such efforts is the recent passage of Senate Bill 1600, a reform aimed at facilitating the transition of licensed professionals relocating to Florida.

Signed into law by DeSantis on June 28, SB 1600 makes Florida the 21st state to recognize occupational licenses issued by other states, a measure known as universal license recognition. This reform has garnered bipartisan support and has been implemented in both red and blue states over the past five years. However, Florida's rapid population growth demands a swift and comprehensive solution to the issue of occupational licensing.

During his campaign... DeSantis highlighted the need for reform, citing the example of how it is easier to become a paratrooper in the military than a cosmetologist in Florida. The benefits of universal license recognition are evident in states that have already implemented the reform. For instance, Arizona has successfully licensed over 500 physicians and 200 physician assistants, while the state's Registrar of Contractors has approved more than 2,900 licenses for various occupations in the trades.

Thousands of workers have benefited from the reform, including hundreds of behavioral health examiners, engineers... cosmetologists, "real estate agents," "and brokers." This article's information was partly informed by the Tampa Bay Times, a reliable source that provides valuable insights into Florida's legislative developments and policy decisions.

Source: See here

As in previous legislative sessions, Gov. Ron DeSantis and state lawmakers used the 2024 session to enact pro-growth policies that will reduce the cost of state government and make Florida an even more attractive place to live, work and raise a family. Take the recent enactment of Senate Bill 1600, a reform that will make it easier for licensed professionals, something that Florida needs many more of across a host of fields, to get to work more quickly upon relocating to the Sunshine State.
With the enactment of SB 1600, legislation introduced by Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, and signed into law by DeSantis on June 28, Florida becomes the 21st state to recognize out-of-state occupational licenses. This reform, commonly referred to as universal license recognition, has earned bipartisan support and been enacted in both red and blue states over the past five years.
With the nation's fastest-growing population, however, Florida needs universal license recognition more than any other state.

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