Governor Kehoe Joins United WE to Celebrate New Law Removing Barriers to Work

Excerpt:

Today, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe joined United WE – a nonpartisan think-and-do tank working to strengthen the economy by increasing women’s labor force participation – at its Kansas City headquarters for a ceremonial signing of House Bill 2974 (HB 2974). The bill was formally signed into law on July 13 and effective August 28. Missouri House Speaker Dr. Jon Patterson and Rep. Sherri Gallick also attended and spoke at the event.

The new law shortens the wait for qualified professionals licensed in other states to begin working in Missouri.

Missouri has recognized out-of-state professional licenses since 2018, including for military spouses. HB 2974 builds on that foundation in two ways:

• Telehealth. The law resolves a question the old statute left open: a health care provider who receives a Missouri license based on an out-of-state license is fully licensed here, including to treat Missouri patients by telehealth.
  
• Three more interstate licensing agreements. Missouri has joined nine health care licensing compacts since 2016, covering everyone from nurses and physical therapists to counselors and EMTs. HB 2974 adds physician assistants, athletic trainers and dietitians, bringing the total to twelve. Professions without a compact are still covered by Missouri’s general recognition law.

HB 2974 builds on Missouri’s broader efforts to reduce barriers to licensed work. The Archbridge Institute’s 2026 State Occupational Licensing Index ranks Missouri as having the lowest occupational licensing burden in the country, with Kansas second-lowest. The new law continues that focus by making it easier for qualified professionals to put existing credentials to work in Missouri.

Read the full article at Morningstar.

Read the State Occupational Licensing Index report here.