HB 1812 - DIGEST

Establishes the military spouse equal economic opportunity act.

Includes military spouse status as a protected class under the law against discrimination.

Requires state agencies to waive licensing fees and expedite certain business and professional licenses for a military spouse.

Addresses state hiring preferences, business and occupation tax credits, and existing employment initiatives, with regard to military spouses.

Requires the department of commerce to convene a work group to develop recommendations on best practices for collecting demographic data on military families receiving services, support, assistance, and benefits from state agencies.

Requires the office of financial management and the employment security department to develop a report on military spouses who reside in the state, and working-age military spouses residing in the state, as applicable, and issue the report to the joint committee on veterans' and military affairs.

Requires the office of minority and women's business enterprises to design and implement a two-year pilot program to conduct outreach to military spouses who are women and minority business owners, for providing support and technical assistance to those business owners.

Provides a December 31, 2023, expiration date of the pilot program.