CaliforniaCalifornia changes licensing rules for military families and health professionals
Military license applicants could register without recent work experience, mental health supervisors would review live video supervision, and optometry fee minimums would fall.
What it does
Military servicemembers and their spouses with comparable out-of-state licenses could register in California without showing recent work experience, if they meet document and conduct requirements.
Marriage and family therapy supervisors would assess live video supervision only when they use it, and they would have to stop using it if the assessment finds it unsuitable.
Nonresident ophthalmic lens dispensers would face lower minimum California registration and two-year renewal fees, although the board could set higher amounts within new limits.
Argument forRemoving the recent-work requirement could help military families obtain California registrations sooner after relocation, if they meet the other requirements.
Argument againstA supervisor may have to end live video supervision after an assessment, which could disrupt trainees who rely on remote supervision.
More detail
Licensing boards and the Department of Real Estate must register eligible military servicemembers and their spouses without charging a registration fee. This covers people with an active, similar professional license from another U.S. state, district, or territory who move to California because of military orders, including qualifying spouses. Applicants must provide the required license records, military orders, California address, and other documents. Applicants must attest that they meet the requirements, provided accurate information, and will follow the registering authority’s standards and scope of practice. The registration lasts only while the military orders remain in effect, and the registering authority may suspend or revoke it for violations. The authority must register a complete application within 30 days; the supplied text does not state when this provision takes effect.
Mental health supervisors must assess whether live video supervision is appropriate when they use it. This applies to supervision for marriage and family therapist trainees and associates, including supervision held in person, by live video, or through both methods. The supervisor must consider the supervisee’s abilities, both people’s preferences, and the privacy of their locations. The supervisor must document the assessment and stop using live video if it is found inappropriate. The assessment must occur within 60 days after live video supervision begins; the supplied text does not state when this provision takes effect.
The State Board of Optometry must set the minimum registration fee at $350 and the minimum two-year renewal fee at $200 for nonresident ophthalmic lens dispensers. This applies to nonresident ophthalmic lens dispensers registered under the Optometry Practice Act. The registration fee may be set between $350 and $600. The two-year renewal fee may be set between $200 and $400. The board may revise these fees by regulation, but they may not exceed reasonable regulatory costs. The supplied text does not state when the new fee minimums take effect.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 14Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 237, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 14Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 4Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 28Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Special Consent SB1445 B., P. & E.D. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 27Ordered to special consent calendar.
- Aug 25In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 1445 Business, Professions an Senate Third Reading By BERMAN. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6522.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 20Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 20Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 18Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 18Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 6Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 6From consent calendar on motion of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry.
- Aug 6Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.Minor
- Aug 5From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 30From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 17From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.Major
- May 18Referred to Com. on B. & P.Minor
- May 7In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded Consent Calendar 2nd SB1445 B., P. & E.D. Result: pass.Upper
- May 7Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 4168.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- May 5Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.Minor
- May 4From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.Minor
- Apr 24Set for hearing May 4.
- Apr 20From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 3954.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15Set for hearing April 20.
- Mar 25Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.Minor
- Mar 18From printer. May be acted upon on or after April 17.
- Mar 17Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
Government & EthicsMental HealthHealthcare