HB 479 Mississippi House · 2026 Regular Session

Universal Recognition of Occupational License Act; revise regarding practices of marriage and family therapy and psychology.

HB 479 revises Mississippi's Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses Act to adjust temporary practice permit rules for marriage and family therapists and psychologists. This change ensures these professions are subject to the same universal recognition standards as other licensed occupations, allowing relocating professionals to obtain temporary permits under standard conditions like holding a current license in good standing from another state. The bill also directs the state to review the existing licensing laws for these professions for potential future amendments. It directly affects licensed therapists and psychologists moving to Mississippi from other states seeking temporary practice authorization.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Feb 5, 2026 Signed Mar 19, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the lower Current version · 4 edits
MODERATE
The Senate amended HB 479 to tighten Mississippi's temporary practice permit provisions for psychologists and marriage and family therapists. The most significant change replaces a 365-day expiration rule with a mandatory suspension and revocation mechanism triggered when criminal background checks or education, training, and examination inquiries are returned as insufficient. A new clarification was also added stating that the Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses Act does not waive standard education, supervised training, and examination requirements.
Scope change
The bill's scope narrowed in practice: while it still applies to temporary practice permits under the Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses Act for psychology and marriage and family therapy, it now explicitly clarifies that the act does not waive standard education, supervised training, and examination requirements, and it adds a mandatory revocation trigger that makes temporary permits more restrictive.
REQUIREMENT

Removed the 365-day expiration provision for temporary licenses. Replaced it with a mandatory requirement that the licensing board suspend and revoke a temporary license when the criminal background check or education, training, and examination inquiries are returned as insufficient for licensure under Sections 73-31-14, 73-31-15 (psychology) or Section 73-54-23 (marriage and family therapy).

ENFORCEMENT

Added a requirement that the licensing board notify the applicant of the revocation when a temporary license is suspended and revoked due to insufficient background check or education/training/examination inquiries.

SCOPE

Replaced subsection (14), which previously stated that nothing in the chapter prevents Mississippi from entering into licensing compacts or reciprocity agreements, with a new provision stating that nothing in the section replaces or removes an applicant's requirements for compliance with education, supervised training, and examination under the relevant psychology and marriage and family therapy sections.

TECHNICAL

The former subsection (14) licensing compact language was renumbered as subsection (15), and the former subsection (15) exclusions list (practice of law, etc.) was renumbered as subsection (16).

Floor votes · Senate Mar 9, 2026 · House Feb 4, 2026

How they voted

510
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 52
Mar 9, 2026
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican34
33 Yea 1
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
8
Committee
4
Amendments
2
Mar 19, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor
executive
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Concurred in Amend From Senate
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed As Amended
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass As Amended
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Committee
Referred To Public Health and Welfare
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Introduced
Transmitted To Senate
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed As Amended
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Committee
Referred To Business and Commerce
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Lee Yancey
Lee Yancey
RRepublican
MS
74