State Member Board Briefs

AlabamaMedical Age of Consent RaisedSenate Bill 101, sponsored by Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, was passed in the 2025 Alabama Legislature and became effective October 1, 2025. The law raises the age at which minors can consent to medical, dental, and mental health services from 14 to 16. With this new law, Alabama aligns its medical age of consent with neighboring states.The law also:Source: https://www.albme.gov/press-release/al-sb-101-would-raise-medical-age-of-consent-from-14-to-16FloridaNew Background Screening Requirements Now ActiveEffective July 1, 2025, all healthcare practitioners in Florida must comply with new background screening requirements when applying for an initial license or renewing an existing license. Compliance with this new law is essential to maintain licensure and continue practicing.Failure to complete the required background screening will prevent the obtaining or renewal of licenses. Given the multiple steps and processing time involved, delaying this requirement could lead to licensing delays or expiration.Why This Matters:Source: flhealthsource.gov/background-screening/IllinoisIDFPR Honored with CLEAR Regulatory Excellence AwardOn September 16, 2025, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced that its Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) has been awarded the 2025 Regulatory Excellence Award by the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR). This is presented annually to regulatory bodies worldwide that demonstrate outstanding innovation, vision, and measurable results in protecting the public while serving professionals. This prestigious international honor recognizes DPR's transformative leadership in professional regulation by modernizing licensure processes, reducing barriers for applicants, and elevating customer service for more than 1.2 million licensed professionals across Illinois.“Receiving CLEAR's Regulatory Excellence Award is a proud moment for the State of Illinois and a powerful recognition of the dedication, innovation, and vision of our Division of Professional Regulation,” said IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. “This award reflects not just national recognition, but international acknowledgment that Illinois is leading the way in reimagining the role of regulation. While our work is far from over, by putting people at the center of licensure, we are building a more transparent, efficient, and trusted system.”Under the leadership of Camile Lindsay, Director of Professional Regulation, the Division executed a sweeping modernization effort that combined technology, policy reform, and stakeholder engagement. A centerpiece of this transformation was the launch of CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment) on October 30, 2024, the largest licensing system overhaul in IDFPR's history.CORE replaces a decades-old legacy system with a fully online licensing solution covering all 120 regulated professions.While IDFPR worked to secure CORE, DPR simultaneously implemented service-centered improvements beyond technology, including new policy pathways, outreach initiatives, and customer service enhancements such as:Source: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/news/2025/idfpr-honored-clear-regulatory-excellence-award.html