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LD 1789

An Act To Amend The Education And Experience Requirements And Add Reciprocity Privileges In The Certified Public Accountancy Licensure Laws

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Amanda Collamore and 3 co-sponsors

Revises Maine CPA licensure education/experience standards and adds reciprocity for out-of-state CPAs to obtain licensure and practice in Maine.

Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · LD 1789

Summary — LD 1789

An Act To Amend the Education And Experience Requirements And Add Reciprocity Privileges In The Certified Public Accountancy Licensure Laws

Purpose

LD 1789 updates Maine’s certified public accountancy (CPA) licensure statutes by revising the education and experience prerequisites for licensure and by adding reciprocity privileges for accountants licensed in other jurisdictions. The stated intent is to modernize licensure standards and create additional pathways for qualified out‑of‑state practitioners to obtain or exercise CPA privileges in Maine.

Key provisions (as described in bill history and fiscal notes)

  • Revises statutory education requirements for CPA licensure (specific statutory changes not included in provided documents).
  • Revises or clarifies experience requirements needed to qualify for CPA licensure.
  • Establishes reciprocity privileges or pathways allowing accountants licensed in other U.S. jurisdictions to obtain Maine licensure or practice under specified reciprocal terms.
  • Provides implementation and administrative authority to the Board of Accountancy and the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to carry out changes (rulemaking or procedural updates may be required).

Note: The official bill text and amendment C "A" (H-533) contain the detailed statutory changes; those specifics were not provided in the fiscal documents supplied.

Who is affected

  • Prospective CPA candidates (students and graduates) — may face changed education/experience thresholds.
  • Current and out‑of‑state licensed CPAs — may gain new or clarified reciprocity options to become licensed or practice in Maine.
  • Employers of CPAs (public accounting firms, businesses, governmental entities) — could see changes in hiring/licensure verification processes.
  • Board of Accountancy and Department of Professional and Financial Regulation — responsible for implementing changes, processing applications, and possibly updating rules and forms.

Fiscal impact

  • Multiple fiscal notes indicate a minor cost increase to the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (Other Special Revenue Funds) to implement the changes; these costs are expected to be absorbable within existing budgeted resources.
  • An earlier preliminary fiscal note noted a possible minor revenue decrease to the Board of Accountancy; later fiscal notes (for amended/engrossed versions) report only a minor cost increase.

Legislative and timeline notes

  • Introduced: April 24, 2025; referred to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services.
  • Committee work: Work session May 15, 2025; recommended OTP‑AM (with amendment).
  • Committee Amendment: C "A" (H‑533) adopted.
  • Passed: June 9, 2025 (engrossed as amended).
  • Signed by Governor: June 12, 2025 — bill status: enacted/signed.

Implementation

The enacted law may require the Board and Department to amend application procedures and adopt any necessary rules. The effective date is not specified in the provided materials; consult the final enrolled/posted law for exact statutory language and the effective date.

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

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