AUSTIN, TX -- Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa recently filed Senate Bill (SB) 1325 which, if passed, will make it easier for a person married to a military service member or veteran to obtain an occupational license or revalidate an existing license from another state. Texas is home to thousands of military families, consisting of veterans, active-duty service members, spouses, and dependents.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

"Our military spouses face frequent moves and parenting responsibilities that often make it challenging for them to get a job. They face further barriers with burdensome state and local occupational licensing regulations. The occupational licensing reforms in my bill will help maximize employment opportunities for our military families and will show our state's continued commitment to welcoming them to Texas."

SB 1325 will continue to aid military members or spouses by extending the fee waivers established by Senate Bill 807 in 2015 to include any relevant local fees. The bill will also provide for licensing reciprocity for veterans, their spouses, and for military spouses who hold a current license issued by another jurisdiction for which the licensing requirements are substantially equivalent to those in Texas. Additionally, SB 1325 will create a comprehensive website for military members or dependents to locate license reciprocity information.

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