A proposal to significantly restructure professional licensing oversight in Florida generated concern among engineering organizations earlier this year as lawmakers again examined changes to the state’s regulatory framework.

House Bill (H.B.) 607 proposed sweeping revisions to how professional licensing is administered across the state. Among other provisions, the legislation would have reassigned regulatory authority from independent licensing boards to state agencies, including the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The bill also included language that would have abolished numerous professional licensing boards and eventually eliminated the Florida Board of Professional Engineers, shifting licensing authority directly to the state. In addition, the proposal sought to extend license renewal cycles for many professions from two years to four years and remove continuing education requirements for most licensed occupations.

Engineering leaders raised concerns that the proposal could reduce the role of subject-matter expertise in professional regulation. Licensing boards are typically composed of professionals with technical knowledge of the fields they oversee, allowing them to evaluate qualifications, disciplinary matters, and professional standards within the context of the profession.

The legislation emerged amid broader discussions in Florida about restructuring the state’s licensing framework and reconsidering the role that independent professional boards play in regulating technical professions.

NSPE participated in discussions with national organizations, regulators, and other stakeholders as the proposal was reviewed and its potential implications for engineering licensure were evaluated.

Although the legislation generated significant attention early in the session, it did not advance beyond its initial committee hearings.