Federal portal would handle appraiser license applications and renewals

The Appraisal Subcommittee would establish and maintain a cloud-based credential portal. The portal would serve appraisers, appraisal management companies, and state agencies that license, certify, or register them. States would keep authority to decide applications and renewals. State fees and state-specific information would still go to the states through the portal.

The Justice Department would provide required criminal-history records, and the Appraisal Subcommittee could route requests and results between the FBI and state agencies. This would apply only when state law requires background checks for appraisers, appraisal management companies, or other covered people. People who need an FBI check under state law would submit fingerprints through the portal and authorize the Subcommittee to process the check. A completed check would satisfy related third-party oversight rules from federal financial regulators.

The Appraisal Subcommittee could charge portal users and would make connection grants available to state licensing agencies. User fees would apply to individuals and appraisal management companies that use the portal; grants would support state agencies connecting their systems. Fees could pay only for the portal and required background checks, and fee revenue would have to match those costs. The Subcommittee would set grant policies.