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SB 140

Adopting the social work licensure compact

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Emma Kerr-Carpenter

SB 140 would allow licensed social workers to practice across state lines through an interstate compact, reducing licensing barriers and potentially expanding mental health service access.

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Bill Summary · SB 140

Legislative bill overview

SB 140 would have adopted the Social Work Licensure Compact, an interstate agreement allowing licensed social workers to practice across state lines without obtaining separate licenses in each state. The compact creates a unified credentialing process while maintaining individual state regulatory authority and consumer protections.

Why is this important

Social work shortages and licensing barriers limit access to mental health services, particularly in rural areas like Montana. By enabling reciprocal licensure, the compact could increase service availability and reduce costs for consumers and healthcare systems. It would also allow Montana social workers to practice across state lines more easily, expanding career mobility.

Potential points of contention

  • Regulatory sovereignty concerns: Some may view ceding any licensing authority to an interstate compact as diminishing Montana's independent regulatory control over who practices social work within its borders
  • Consumer protection questions: Critics might worry that streamlined interstate licensing could lower standards or make it harder to track disciplinary records across state lines
  • Economic impacts on local workforce: Some stakeholders may fear that reciprocal licensing enables out-of-state workers to compete with Montana-based practitioners without local accountability requirements

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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