One important reform just passed

mars 05, 2026

Dear Friend,

The Utah legislative session is almost over.

Tomorrow is the final day lawmakers will meet before the session officially comes to a close. After months of preparation and weeks of debate, amendments, and votes, the session is coming to a close.

But before lawmakers go home, one important reform just passed.

Senate Bill 90, sponsored by Sen. Heidi Balderree, clears the way for veterans to use the training they gained in the military toward professional licenses here in Utah.

For thousands of veterans, this bill removes a major barrier.Right now, many veterans return home with advanced skills developed during their service. Yet Utah's licensing system often doesn't recognize that experience.

So these veterans are often forced to redo coursework they've already mastered, repeat tests for skills they used in far higher-stakes environments, or wait months for approval just to work in professions they were already trained for.

As our Director of Public Policy, Jason Chipman, explained while testifying in support of the bill:

"We've already paid all that money to train them all those years, and it's kind of a waste if we make them do it all over again because we don't understand what they're doing."

SB 90 fixes that.

The bill directs the Utah Division of Professional Licensing, working with the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, to identify where military training and experience match civilian licensing requirements. Veterans will receive credit for the training they've already earned.

Our team at Libertas spent 18 months working on this reform.

We dug through licensing requirements across many professions, worked with stakeholders, and testified in support as the bill moved through the legislature.

According to the latest Libertas Institute / Overton Insights poll, 79% of Utah voters support recognizing military training toward professional licensing, with strong bipartisan support. Because this is good policy—and because it's widely popular—our national team is already fielding calls from other states asking how they can adopt it.

That's a win for veterans, a win for Utah's workforce, and for all of us who want to make Utah the best state to live and to work.

Stay close by for a final recap of the session on Saturday.

In liberty,