South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and prime sponsor Senator Jim Stalzer will propose legislation (SB 76) to recognize out-of-state licenses for nearly every profession.
Noem says the state’s economy has been booming, but the workforce has been experiencing some growing pains. She says there are 23,000 open jobs in the state, and this legislation will help fill them.
Stalzer says a variety of benefits come from growing the workforce and increasing the number of licensed professionals in the state. He says his bill will allow the state’s boards and commissions the discretion to streamline the licensing and certification process for professionals who are making South Dakota their home.
According to a news release from Noem’s office, other states that have implemented this reform have seen an almost immediate impact on their workforce. It says Arizona’s workforce grew by about 5,000 since their law was implemented, according to data collected by the Common Sense and Goldwater Institutes.
In 2019, Governor Noem signed HB 1111 to provide fast-track occupational licenses for military personnel and spouses. In 2021, she signed HB 1077 to recognize out-of-state licenses for healthcare professions.
Noem discussed this proposal during her State of the State Address earlier this week (Jan. 10, 2023).
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