SHARE Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2332
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-25: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 33 - 0.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T08:06:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The SHARE Act of 2025 aims to facilitate interstate reciprocity for professional licenses by authorizing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to share limited criminal history records with state licensing authorities. This supports background checks required under interstate compacts, helping professionals practice across state lines more efficiently while protecting privacy.
Key Provisions
- FBI Access Requirement: The FBI Director must provide criminal history record information (details on arrests, charges, and outcomes, excluding non-criminal identification like fingerprints) to state licensing authorities through agreements with state law enforcement or identification bureaus. This is for background checks on individuals seeking licenses or privileges under interstate compacts (agreements between states for mutual recognition of licenses).
- Restrictions on Use and Sharing: State licensing authorities can only use the information for deciding on licenses or privileges in their state. They cannot share the actual criminal history details with the compact's commission (a joint entity overseeing the compact), other states, or the public. However, they may inform the commission that a check was completed and whether it was satisfactory (a simple yes/no result).
- Definitions: Key terms include:
- Commission: A joint government body created by an interstate compact.
- Criminal history record information: Records of criminal justice interactions like arrests and convictions (but not mere identification data).
- License: State authorization to practice an occupation or profession, including multistate versions.
- Privilege: Permission under a compact to practice in another member state.
- State licensing authority: State entities (boards or agencies) that issue licenses.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Subtitle E of Title VI of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (which deals with criminal history checks for various purposes) by adding a new Section 6404. Previously, there was no explicit federal authorization for the FBI to share such records specifically for interstate compact licensing background checks, though general sharing mechanisms existed for other uses like national security or child protection. This change expands FBI involvement to support state-level professional mobility without broadly altering privacy laws.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The FBI will handle more requests for record sharing, potentially increasing administrative workload but streamlining interstate processes. State licensing authorities gain easier access to federal data, reducing duplication in background checks.
- Citizens: Professionals (e.g., in fields like nursing or engineering covered by compacts) benefit from faster license portability across states, promoting job mobility and reducing barriers for interstate work. Privacy is maintained as detailed records stay state-confined.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State Licensing Authorities: Primary users of the shared information for licensing decisions.
- Professionals and Applicants: Individuals seeking multistate licenses, who undergo background checks.
- FBI and State Law Enforcement: Entities providing and managing the data exchange.
- Interstate Compact Commissions: Receive only completion status, not details, affecting oversight of reciprocity programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces privacy protections under federal law by limiting data sharing to essential uses, aligning with existing statutes like the Privacy Act of 1974. It standardizes background checks for compacts without mandating new state laws.
- Constitutional: Supports the Commerce Clause by easing interstate labor movement, with no apparent conflicts to federalism (states retain licensing control) or due process (applicants' rights to fair checks are preserved).
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from both parties) suggests broad support for workforce mobility. It could encourage more states to join compacts, potentially influencing future labor policies, but raises minor concerns about federal data access expansion if not tightly controlled.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (29)
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8], Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-25: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 33 - 0.
- 2026-06-25: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-25: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-25 — PDF (5 pages)