Economist Edward Timmons joins the Cause and Effect podcast on April 9 to discuss the impacts of occupational licensing on job access and wages, along with economic mobility. He says occupational licensing discourages employment, with some research showing occupational licensing decreasing employment by 29%. He also explains universal recognition laws, designed to support licensing professionals across state lines. The podcast host poses the question: “From barbers to teachers to healthcare workers, these laws affect everything from wages and employment to consumer prices. Are they truly protecting the public, or are they protecting established professionals from competition?”
Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed into law Senate Bill 1208, appropriating money to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Youth Safety and Permanency. According to the Idaho Capital Sun on April 10, the bill adds 63 new child welfare staff and grows the agency’s youth division budget by almost $23.2 million. “Much of the initiatives funded will focus on preventing kids in need of child welfare services from entering foster homes — by providing resources to help them remain in their biological families.”
Louisiana ranks number 27 overall for all states and Puerto Rico in the 2024 State Occupational Licensing Index from the Archbridge Institute and the Knee Regulatory Research Center; the score places the state 27th among states for the highest occupational licensing burden. Besides the overall ranking, the report also features a state profile ranking that puts states in one of five quintiles. Louisiana ranks three in the quintile system, with one the “most occupational licensing” and five the “least occupational licensing.” The quintile system reviews several factors, including barriers and licenses, along with universal recognition reforms. The licensing index, released in August, contains information on 284 occupations.
Other overall rankings include Maryland at number 28.
See a listing of all state rankings in the latest edition of the State Occupational Licensing Index.
Physician Assistants Compact Update: Montana Joins PA Licensure Compact
Montana joined the PA Licensure Compact, following Governor Greg Gianforte’s signing of HB 183 on April 3.
Kansas Ninth State to Pass Dietitian Licensure Compact Legislation
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on April 10, Kansas passed the Dietitian Licensure Compact legislation, making Kansas the ninth state to pass the legislation.
CISA Reportedly Plans to Reduce Agency Staff by Nearly 40%
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) faces questions from Congress over plans to decrease the workforce by almost 40%, approximately 1,300 positions.
Report: New York State Needs Better AI Governance
A report from the comptroller’s office outlines the need for more training, guidance and oversight of how New York’s state agencies use AI.
Eight States Introduce Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact Legislation
The American Association of Dental Boards (AADB) announced that eight states, including Oklahoma, Missouri, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Texas, Kentucky and most recently Pennsylvania, joined the Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact (IDDHLC).
