The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho grants professional counseling licenses to former military chaplains without examinations or fees
Last action · March 19, 2026: Recommitted to Commerce & Human Resources
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Would Do
Idaho House Bill 545 establishes alternative counselor licensure pathways for military veterans who served as chaplains, exempting them from standard educational degrees, examinations, and application fees starting July 1, 2026. The legislation permits qualifying former chaplains to obtain both licensed professional counselor and licensed clinical professional counselor credentials upon demonstrating specific military service, , and supervised client contact hours.
The measure lowers professional entry barriers and licensing costs for former military chaplains seeking civilian mental health counseling careers in Idaho, directly changing state certification requirements for this group.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
former military chaplains residing in Idaho
Former military chaplains gain an alternative pathway to obtain professional and clinical counselor licenses without completing standard examinations or paying application fees.
Idaho licensing board
The board must evaluate alternative qualification criteria, including DD form 214 records and clinical pastoral education units, instead of enforcing standard examination and fee requirements for eligible veterans.
Key Facts
- Idaho House Bill 545 amends sections 54-3405 and 54-3405A of the Idaho Code to establish alternative licensure pathways for former military chaplains.
- Applicants for a licensed professional counselor credential through this pathway must be Idaho residents, possess an honorable discharge evidenced by a DD form 214, have completed four units of clinical pastoral education, and document 1,000 hours of direct client contact under a supervisory chaplain or counselor.
- Applicants for a licensed clinical professional counselor credential must meet the military service, honorable discharge, and clinical pastoral education criteria, and document 2,000 hours of direct client contact under supervision.
- Qualifying former chaplains are explicitly exempted from taking board-approved examinations and paying application fees.
Show all 6 facts
- Individuals whose license, certification, or registration has been revoked or suspended in any state are ineligible unless the suspension period is completed and a competency review determines rehabilitation.
- The act declares an emergency and takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What requirements are waived for former military chaplains seeking a counseling license?
What documentation must a former military chaplain provide to qualify?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed both. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
14 actions- Mar 19, 2026Recommitted to Commerce & Human Resources
- Mar 19, 2026Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- Mar 18, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- Mar 10, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time; referred to: Commerce & Human Resources
- Mar 10, 2026FloorReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 9, 2026FloorRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 52-17-1 AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson(Larsen), Fuhriman, Furniss, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Harris, Hawkins, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Weber, Wisniewski, Mr. Speaker NAYS – Berch, Bingham, Church, Egbert, Galaviz, Gannon, Handy, Haws, Healey, Mathias, Mickelsen, Nelsen, Raybould, Rubel, Tanner(13), Veile, Wheeler Absent – Manwaring Floor Sponsor - Ehardt Title apvd - to Senate
Show 8 earlier actions
- Mar 5, 2026U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, March 9, 2026
- Mar 4, 2026U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
- Mar 3, 2026U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
- Mar 2, 2026U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
- Feb 27, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Feb 26, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
- Jan 29, 2026CommitteeReported Printed and Referred to Business
- Jan 28, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools