HB 81 New Mexico House · 2025 Regular Session

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT

HB 81, the Occupational Therapy Licensure Interstate Compact, would allow occupational therapists and assistants licensed in one participating state to practice in other member states without obtaining additional licenses, as long as the patient is located in the state where care is provided. It directly affects licensed occupational therapy professionals seeking to practice across state lines, military spouses relocating with their partners, and patients accessing telehealth services. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, shared disciplinary information between states, accountability for remote practice under local standards, and enhanced telehealth access. The bill preserves each state's regulatory authority over licensure while creating a streamlined framework for interstate practice, though it remains pending after being postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 10, 2025 Last action Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → JC substitute · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill transforms New Mexico's occupational therapy licensure from a single-state system to an interstate compact that allows licensed therapists to practice across state lines with mutual recognition of licenses. The changes significantly expand access to care while adding new requirements for criminal background checks, data sharing, and commission oversight to protect public safety.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a single-state licensure framework to a multistate interstate compact system that enables occupational therapists to practice in multiple states under a unified regulatory framework.

ELIGIBILITY

Added requirements for criminal background checks including fingerprint-based FBI checks for all applicants seeking initial licensure or compact privileges.

Added special provisions for active duty military personnel and their spouses to designate and retain home state licensure during military service.

REQUIREMENT

Created new Occupational Therapy Compact Commission as a joint public agency with authority to promulgate rules, manage data systems, and oversee interstate practice.

Required member states to participate fully in a centralized data system and use a unique identifier for all licensees to enable information sharing.

Modified the Occupational Therapy Act to require submission of fingerprints and criminal history reports as conditions for initial licensure.

DEFINITION

Established new definitions for key terms including 'compact privilege,' 'remote state,' 'home state,' and 'telehealth' to support interstate practice.

ENFORCEMENT

Added enforcement mechanisms including adverse action reporting between states, data system notifications, and provisions for terminating non-compliant member states.

TIMELINE

Established implementation timeline requiring the compact to come into effect when enacted in the tenth member state.

Floor votes · House Feb 21, 2025

How they voted

61–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 66

Feb 21, 2025

D Democratic40

35 Yea 5

87% Yea

R Republican26

26 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Judiciary Committee & Senate Finance Committee

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute

lower

Feb 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Health & Human Services Committee & House Judiciary Committee

lower

Jan 10, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Pre-file

lower

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors