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HB 5570

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MAXIMUM OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSE FEE.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tim Ackert and 11 co-sponsors

HB 5570 would establish a statutory cap on fees charged for occupational and professional licenses.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON General Law
#fees #professionallicenses
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Bill Summary · HB 5570

Summary — HB 5570

Title: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MAXIMUM OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSE FEE
Bill Number: HB 5570
Introduced: March 14, 2025
Subject: fees; professional licenses
Current status: Referred to Joint Committee on General Law; reported favorably without amendment by committee and placed on the General State Calendar (May 13, 2025)

Purpose / Intent

HB 5570 is intended to limit the amount that state agencies, boards, or commissions may charge for occupational and professional licenses by establishing a statutory maximum fee. The general policy goals behind such measures are typically to reduce financial barriers to entry for workers, limit fee increases, and provide predictability for applicants and licensees.

Key provisions (based on bill title — full text not provided)

Because the bill text itself was not included, the precise statutory language and numeric limits are not available. The bill’s title indicates it would:

  • Create a legal cap on fees charged for occupational and professional licenses administered under state law.
  • Apply the cap to licensing application fees, renewal fees, or both (scope to be confirmed in text).
  • Potentially specify which licensing entities or categories of occupations are covered, and may include exemptions for certain boards, specialties, or public-safety-related licenses.
  • Possibly include transitional provisions (e.g., existing higher fees must be reduced by a given date), enforcement mechanisms, and an effective date.

Who would be affected

  • Individuals seeking initial occupational or professional licenses (lower or capped up-front costs).
  • Current licensees at renewal time if renewals are capped.
  • State licensing boards and agencies (potential revenue reductions; administrative changes to fee schedules).
  • Employers and small businesses dependent on licensed workers (potentially easier hiring/expansion).
  • State budget and special funds that are partially funded by licensing revenue.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Access: Lower or capped fees can reduce barriers for entry into licensed professions, especially for low-income applicants.
  • Revenue: Agencies that rely on fee revenue may face shortfalls; the bill may require appropriations or restructuring of special funds.
  • Administrative: Licensing boards may need to revise fee schedules and rulemaking. Some boards could seek statutory exemptions.
  • Legal/Compliance: Questions may arise about the state’s authority to cap fees set by independent boards or boards funded through dedicated accounts.
  • Equity and inflation: If caps are static, inflation may erode real value unless mechanisms for periodic adjustment are included.

Legislative progress and timeline

  • Filed: March 14, 2025
  • Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence: April 7, 2025
  • Committee hearings and public testimony: April 23, 2025
  • Reported favorably without amendment: May 1, 2025
  • Committee report forwarded to Calendars: May 10–11, 2025
  • Placed on General State Calendar: May 13, 2025

Notes and recommendations

The summary above is based on the bill title and legislative actions; the full bill text, fiscal note, and any amendments are needed to state exact caps, covered fees, exemptions, and enforcement language. Review those documents (and any committee reports) to assess precise financial impacts and implementation details.

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

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