Two cases now before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court are under review and have drawn significant attention from professional engineers and the broader design community. For nearly 50 years, Pennsylvania’s statute of repose has provided a vital layer of certainty by limiting how long after substantial completion a claim can be brought for design or construction defects. That 12-year limit is now being tested on two fronts, and the decisions could ripple well beyond Pennsylvania.

Two Hawaii County charter amendments that would have weakened qualification standards for critical public infrastructure roles, Bills 64 and 72, prompted a coordinated response from professional engineers and allied partners this fall. Supporters of the measures argued that current charter requirements were too restrictive and limited the pool of applicants. That claim didn’t withstand scrutiny.

This summer and fall, professional engineers have been sitting down with their U.S. Representatives in home districts across the country through NSPE’s congressional meetings campaign. Since its launch in July, the effort has opened direct lines between engineers and lawmakers, highlighting how licensure and engineering standards safeguard the public’s health, safety, and welfare.

The Archbridge Institute, a free-market policy group, has released its 2025 State Occupational Licensing Index, ranking all 50 states by the scope of their licensing requirements. The report frames licensing as a regulatory “burden” that restricts workforce access and limits social mobility.

A closely watched U.S. Supreme Court case could reshape professional licensure. Chiles v. Salazar, which began in Colorado over a statute regulating counseling practices, raises arguments that stretch far beyond counseling. The petitioner claims that restrictions tied to a professional license amount to restrictions on speech.

On July 4, the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act was signed into law as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This expansion of 529 education savings plans marks a major win for NSPE members. The new law strengthens support for engineers throughout their careers and benefits the wider workforce that depends on technical credentials.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) was created by Congress in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments after a wave of catastrophic chemical accidents in the 1980s. Those events exposed a glaring gap: no federal agency was dedicated to uncovering root causes and preventing future disasters.

Oregon’s transportation system has been under mounting strain, and the warning signs have been hard to ignore. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) reported a $354 million budget shortfall for the upcoming biennium. More than half of the state’s bridges are now over 50 years old, and the ODOT’s 2024 Pavement Condition Report showed that the share of highways rated in “good” condition had fallen to the lowest level since 2001.

Throughout the 2025 legislative session, the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE-TX) mobilized early, planned strategically, and elevated the voices of engineers across the state to protect and promote the practice of engineering. Behind every effort—whether organizing a high-impact Texas State Capitol (Capitol) event or delivering testimony on licensing issues—were NSPE-TX members: licensed professionals whose expertise and presence at the Capitol made a clear and credible impact.

In one of the most closely watched state-level challenges this year, the Nevada Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE-NV)—working in close coordination with NSPE, NCEES, and allied design and licensing organizations—mounted a unified defense to preserve the independence of Nevada’s engineering and other professional licensing boards.