Springfield Update: General Assembly Clears Bill to Address IDFPR’s License Processing Woes!

November 17, 2023

Last week House Bill 2394 passed both the House and Senate with the goal of addressing the professional license processing delays plaguing the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

One of the provisions of the bill provides the IDFPR with an expedited and competitive bid procurement process to update its antiquated software – one of the key culprits for the significant delays in processing license applications.

The bill will also extend the expiration date or renewal period for any professional license when issues that arise are not the fault of the applicant or licensee.

In September, the Illinois House Health Care Licenses Committee convened a public hearing in Chicago to address the license processing delays. ISMS was first to testify before the committee on issues raised by our members related to their experiences with the IDFPR when seeking new medical licenses or renewals. ISMS member and Illinois State Representative William Hauter, M.D., has championed this issue and also testified.

At the hearing, the head of IDFPR revealed that the Department had been working with Illinois’ Chief Procurement Office to purchase new licenses software. However, just a few days before the hearing it became apparent that the contract would not work.

The legislation to address IDFPR’s licensure backlog, the procurement process and other issues will next be sent to Governor Pritzker’s desk. He is expected to sign the bill.

If you have questions, please contact ISMS Senior Vice President of State Legislative Affairs Erin O'Brien by email.