Bill
HB 1120
Allows Foreign Service members and spouses to practice in MD under their out-of-state license for the assignment duration, with set conditions and no immediate MD licensure.
Professional Licensing Portability – Members of the Foreign Service and Spouses
Overview
- Purpose: Create a framework that allows certain members of the U.S. Foreign Service and spouses relocating to Maryland on assignment or detail to practice in Maryland under a license issued in another jurisdiction, for the duration of the assignment, subject to specific conditions.
- Bill type: Repealing and reenacting with amendments multiple sections across state government, agriculture, business occupations and professions, environment, health, education, and more to insert a new subtitle governing foreign service licensing portability.
- Introduced: Feb 11, 2026. Assigned to Economic Matters and Health committees.
Core idea
- The bill establishes a new subtitle under State Government, “Subtitle 14A. Licensing – Members of the Foreign Service and Spouses,” to permit temporary practice in Maryland by Foreign Service members or their spouses who hold licenses from other jurisdictions, during a defined assignment or detail, without requiring immediate Maryland licensure.
Key Provisions (substantive highlights)
- New subtitle creation:
- 10–14A–01 through 10–14A–03 define terms, scope, and applicability.
- Definitions include “License,” “Licensing Authority,” and “Member of the Foreign Service.”
- Temporary practice under out-of-state license:
- Under 10–14A–03, a Foreign Service member or spouse relocating to Maryland for an assignment or detail may practice in Maryland under the license from another jurisdiction for the duration of the assignment.
- Conditions to qualify:
1) Provide the licensing authority with a copy of the assignment/notification.
2) Remain in good standing with the issuing regulatory authority.
3) Remain in good standing in all jurisdictions where the applicant holds or held a license with a similar scope.
4) Have actively used the license in the two years immediately preceding relocation.
5) Comply with practice standards, discipline requirements, and any continuing education requirements of the issuing authority.
- Scope restriction: Practice is limited to the discipline and scope of the license as allowed in the issuing jurisdiction; not automatically required to obtain Maryland licensure unless practicing in a different discipline or scope.
- Exceptions:
- The new subtitle does not apply to occupations governed by specific interstate compacts or to the practice of law.
- Cross-referencing across many professions:
- The bill actively readdresses numerous titles across several articles (Agriculture, Business Occupations and Professions, Business Regulation, Health, Education, Environment, Public Safety, Transportation, etc.) to align with the new portability concept and maintain existing licensing frameworks while enabling temporary practice by foreign service personnel.
Who is Affected
- Foreign Service members assigned to Maryland and spouses of Foreign Service members.
- Maryland licensing authorities and boards for professions listed under the Act will administer and interpret the temporary practice under non-M Maryland-licensure while maintaining other licensing requirements.
- Jurisdictions that issued out-of-state licenses may see temporary practice recognized in Maryland.
Procedural/Timeline Aspects
- Effective date and transition details are not explicitly provided in the excerpt; the bill introduces the new subtitle and conditions, which would become operative upon passage and any rulemaking or regulations adopted by respective licensing authorities.
- Continued need for compliance with continuing education and licensure standards remains with the issuing authority; Maryland does not supersede those requirements for temporary practice.
Notes on Specificity
- The text provides precise criteria for eligibility (assignment notification, good standing, recent use of license, CE requirements) and limits the Maryland regulatory burden by not mandating Maryland licensure unless scope differs or the license is in a different discipline.
Bottom line
- HB 1120 creates a structured pathway for Foreign Service members and spouses to practice in Maryland using their out-of-state licenses for the duration of their assignment, subject to clearly defined requirements and without requiring immediate Maryland licensure, while preserving existing professional licensing integrity and avoiding unintended scope expansion.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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