Alabama
Medical Age of Consent Raised
Senate 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:
Provides for exceptions for certain minors and certain services:
— Minors under 16 can still consent to services related to sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, or in medical emergencies
— Minors who are pregnant, legally emancipated, or living independently may retain the ability to make their own medical decisions
Prohibits healthcare providers and governmental entities from denying parents access to a minor child's health information, unless:
— A court order prohibits access
— The parent is under investigation for a crime against the child
Provides that it is the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning the healthcare of their child
Provides that minors under 16 require written parental permission to participate in school counseling services and local school boards must adopt policies requiring annual written notification to parents about medical services and information about the parents’ rights to allow, limit, or prevent their child's participation.
Source: https://www.albme.gov/press-release/al-sb-101-would-raise-medical-age-of-consent-from-14-to-16
Florida
New Background Screening Requirements Now Active
Effective 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.
Initial Licensure: A new background screening is required as part of the initial application.
License Renewal: The renewal period opens 90 days before expiration. Practitioners should complete their background screening well in advance to avoid interruptions in ability to practice.
Why This Matters:
Enhanced Public Protection—Background screening ensures healthcare practitioners meet high safety and integrity standards, fostering public trust.
Streamlined Licensure Process—The new background screening requirement is integrated into the licensure process, making compliance simple.
I mproved Practice Reputation—Maintaining compliance demonstrates professionalism, prevents disciplinary action, and strengthens credibility in the industry.
Source: flhealthsource.gov/background-screening/
Illinois
IDFPR Honored with CLEAR Regulatory Excellence Award
On 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:
Efficiency Gains: IDFPR streamlined the paper application review process by separating fiscal and processing functions to eliminate unnecessary handoffs and delays. A pilot program was also launched for select professionals who submit paper applications for licensure to submit their payments online.
Record Volumes: With DPR at the forefront, IDFPR issued 120,933 licenses in 2024, a 14% increase from the prior year.
Enhanced Service: More than 726 professionals attended virtual “office hours,” while 678 constituents were served directly at 30 community events.
Policy Leadership: DPR created licensing accommodations for military servicemembers and their spouses and introduced virtual appointments for applicants to obtain licensure updates without traveling to IDFPR's offices.
Customer Trust: Service satisfaction scores consistently rank above the 90th percentile, with applicants describing the CORE system as “seamless” and “easy to understand.”
Source: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/news/2025/idfpr-honored-clear-regulatory-excellence-award.html
