Subcommittee sends HB 1803 to report to create advisory group on career classification for licensed behavior analysts

The House General Laws subcommittee voted to report House Bill 1803 by a 5-2 roll call. The bill directs the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) to convene a stakeholder advisory group to advise on establishing a single career group and associated roles within the Health and Human Services occupational family for licensed behavior analysts employed by state agencies.

Sponsor Delegate Cohen said the bill responds to concerns from licensed behavior analysts who said hiring departments place their positions in different career groups, creating inconsistency in job classification and pay. The advisory group would submit findings and recommendations to DHRM by Nov. 1, 2025.

Licensed behavior analysts testified in favor, describing the profession’s growth since licensure in 2012 and the difficulty agencies face in placing the role without a standardized job class. The committee moved and seconded the measure; a roll-call vote recorded the bill as reported 5-2.

The bill advances with a requirement for DHRM to convene the advisory group and report back to the department later in the year.