In 2025, state regulatory leaders continued to focus on advancing their agencies by embracing digital transformation, from automating licensing systems and permitting systems to enhancing data sharing. Agencies tackled modernization challenges through formal change management, while also prioritizing security initiatives like the GovRAMP CJIS-Aligned Overlay. The year’s occupational licensing rankings drew significant attention, offering insights into state-by-state differences and sparking conversations about regulatory best practices. Communication improvements and the adoption of key licensing system components further empowered agencies to better serve their communities.
Discover the stories that gained the most attention from regulatory agency leaders in 2025.
Review fireworks regulations across all 50 states using the 2025 fireworks laws by state map from the World Population Review. Find out which state bans all consumer fireworks sales and which ones set their own county-level rules. The map uses color coding to show four categories of laws: most consumer fireworks allowed (29 states), only non-aerial and non-explosive fireworks allowed (18 states), regulations made at the county level (3 states), and a complete ban on consumer fireworks (1 state).
The Nevada State Fire Marshal, for example, certifies fireworks professionals, including those in indoor stage, outdoor aerial, special effects, pyro assistance, magic acts and champagne sparkler presentations. The agency moved from a fully manual to an automated system; read about the transition in our client use case.
See how your state ranks in the latest State Occupational Licensing Index. The third edition offers updated rankings for all 50 states and D.C. We speak with Edward Timmons, co-author of the 2025 State Occupational Licensing Index, who highlights key findings and explains how to use the information at your regulatory agency.
Ed Timmons explains: “There continues to be large differences from state to state and region to region on the extent of occupational licensing. Oregon (182) restricts entry into 60 more occupations than Kansas (122). There are also large regional differences. The East and West South Central restrict entry for more than 20 more occupations than the Mid-Atlantic and Mountain regions.”
The Nevada State Fire Marshal oversees licensing for the fire protection industry and manages applications for the retail sale of portable fire extinguishers. Companies must attain a license, and individuals must get certified by the Nevada State Fire Marshal to sell, install, or service any fire protection equipment. Each year, the agency processes between 6,000 and 7,000 permits.
Previously, the Nevada State Fire Marshal processed all applications and correspondence manually, creating cards and licenses by hand; these methods required significant staff time and introduced risks of human error and duplicate records. GL Solutions assisted the agency in moving from an entirely manual process to a fully automated workflow using GL Suite regulatory software, increasing efficiency and accuracy.
See our 2025 State Occupational Licensing Rankings for a more updated version of the story, including an interview with report co-author, Edward Timmons regarding the trends.
Discover the main features of a human care licensing system that help regulatory agencies transition to digital processes. Streamlined licensing procedures boosts efficiency and better safeguards vulnerable populations.
Agency Transformation modernizes your regulatory agency’s approach to implementing a new regulatory software solution using a phased approach. The process involves your agency moving through different levels of growth and development towards an optimal agency licensing and permitting agency, enabling your agency to better run, grow and adapt.
Legacy systems at state agencies hinder modernization, according to Doug Robinson of the National Association for State Chief Information Officers. In a Federal News Network interview, he noted that states face similar challenges as federal agencies, including funding and budget issues. Robinson highlighted that states succeed when they implement formal change management plans.
Robinson explains that “the secret code is having that transformation playbook that is available to all of the agencies that outlines the approaches, and then having highly robust enterprise governance, because again, you might have anywhere from in some cases, large states, a hundred different agencies that are under their purview of the state CIO organization.”
Discover six examples of interfaces for human services data sharing from background checks to online payments. These examples showcase the organization and technology implemented by child care agencies, as well as by providers of human care services such as residential long-term care facilities, home health aides, behavioral health clinics, and others.
Interfaces enable agencies to comply with regulations and protect lives through seamless communication with each other, the public and vendors. Licensing officials regularly exchange data for background checks, fingerprinting, payment processing and receive real-time updates from government systems on eligibility, benefits and investigations.
StateRAMP (dba GovRAMP) announced the release of their StateRAMP CJIS-Aligned Overlay, designed to facilitate compliance with the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) security requirements. As stated by StateRAMP on January 29, “this overlay provides clear, actionable steps to align CJIS Policy 5.9.5 with the StateRAMP Moderate Impact Level baseline controls.” The overlay aims to simplify CJIS compliance for service providers by streamlining the assessment process, offering unambiguous guidance, and supporting informed decision-making.
GL Solutions interviewed GovRAMP Executive Director Leah McGrath about StateRAMP’s adoption of the StateRAMP CJIS-Aligned overlay. She explained why StateRAMP chose to pursue this and how the change benefits your regulatory agency.
A licensing system essentially functions as a communication system. Efficient communication remains crucial for any regulatory agency to work effectively, since many agency activities involve some form of interaction. Licensees and applicants routinely submit documents to a regulatory agency, for example, which then responds with licenses, certifications, notifications and various other forms of communication.
5 Keys to Effective Communication for Regulatory Agencies covers key opportunities to improve communication at your agency—from automation initiatives to self-service websites.
Licensing officials manage heavy workloads and face rapidly evolving technology. But as legacy systems become outdated, migrating to modern software is essential. This transition is often difficult, particularly since staff may not know which licensing-system features fit their agency’s operations and future needs best.
Key Components of a Professional Licensing System describes the basic components and functionalities of a comprehensive licensing system, divided into three categories: automation, efficiency and continuous improvement.
Share your feedback with us. What topics interest you? What stories deserve covering? We look forward to bringing you more educational content in the new year. Send us an email at hello@glsolutions.com. Thank you!
Consider a simple resolution for the new year—read the latest regulatory news and stay up to date. Change your agency for the better and benefit those you serve. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest regulatory news delivered to your inbox each week.
Renee Moseley joined GL Solutions in 2016 with an educational and professional background in research and writing, along with software documentation. At GL Solutions she produces informative content to help regulatory agencies stay current on news and information that supports their success.
