STATEHOUSE (Feb. 3, 2023) – The House Employment, Labor and Pension Committee this week approved State Rep. Chris May's (R-Bedford) legislation to make it easier for out-of-state military families to move to Indiana and start working more quickly.
May's bill would reduce the requirements that a service member's spouse or dependent children would have to obtain in order to be issued an Indiana occupational license. Currently, the service members' spouse or dependent children would be granted reciprocity if they had maintained a similar out-of-state credential for at least two of the past five years. House Bill 1555 makes the Indiana license more attainable by reducing the time requirement to simply a current credential from out of state that has been maintained for at least one year and which is in good standing.
"Indiana is a welcoming state for all of our military veterans and their families, and we recognize the tremendous skill and talent they add to our workforce," May said. "We already have a streamlined license reciprocity process for military members who locate to Indiana, so the bill simply extends those benefits to their family members. Our goal is to encourage them to choose Indiana to live, work, raise a family or start a business."
Southwest Central Indiana is home to Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division. According to Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc., it is the third largest Navy installation in the world and the third largest employer in the region with over 3,800 employees.
"The importance of NSWC Crane to our region and state can't be overstated," May said. "Their work for the U.S. Navy draws scientists, engineers and other specialized workers to Indiana. I'm committed to helping these individuals and their families plant roots here."
House Bill 1555 now heads to the House floor for further consideration. For more information, or to watch session and committees live, visit iga.in.gov.
State Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford) represents House District 65, which includes all of Lawrence County, and portions of Jackson, Orange and Washington counties.
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