SB968

SB968 changes the podiatry licensing statute’s “temporary license” category to a “residency license” and removes the separate provisional-license route. The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation may adopt rules for issuing residency licenses; those rules must set eligibility criteria and a maximum valid period. The act itself does not specify a residency-license duration or automatically grant a full license. Podiatry—the treatment of conditions of the human foot—remains a licensed profession. Sections 1–2; Definitions; License still required.

The repealed provisional route applied to certain podiatrists licensed in good standing in another state with substantially equivalent requirements, a recognized examination and generally a Texas sponsor, subject to a hardship exception. It allowed provisional practice while a full-license application was decided and set a generally 180-day processing deadline, extendable for pending examination results. Repeal removes that particular statutory pathway; it does not say that every out-of-state practitioner is now automatically licensed or barred from all other available routes. Repeal of section 202.260; Full former provisional-license provision.

The act separately repeals section 202.061, the Podiatric Medical Examiners Advisory Board’s specific pre-participation training requirement and annual training-manual/acknowledgment duties. That is board-member training, not podiatrists’ clinical training. It does not repeal all generally applicable ethics, open-meeting or other legal obligations. Section 2; Repealed training provision.

Signed June 20, 2025, SB968 took effect September 1, 2025. A license already issued under section 202.259 and in effect on that date remains valid through the term set when issued, under the former law. This express protection concerns the old temporary licenses under section 202.259; the act does not give the same express transition language for repealed provisional licenses under section 202.260. History; Sections 3–4.