Michigan House Bill HB5291

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 11/13/25
• Refer: 11/13/25

Caption

Health occupations: health professionals; limited license for certain individuals engaging in the practice of applied behavior analysis; provide for. Amends secs. 16343a, 18253 & 18257 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.16343a et seq.).

Summary

HB 5291 would amend Michigan’s Public Health Code to create and clarify licensure rules for applied behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts. The bill sets fees for applications, annual licenses, and limited licenses, and it updates title-protection and practice restrictions so that only licensed or otherwise authorized individuals may use behavior analyst titles or independently provide applied behavior analysis services. The bill also establishes a limited-license pathway for certain students, postdoctoral fellows, and individuals seeking the supervised experience needed for full certification/licensure. Those limited-license holders would be required to work under specified supervision, use the title “applied behavior analyst trainee,” and avoid representing themselves as independently licensed practitioners. The bill preserves several exceptions for related professionals, family members, students, paraprofessionals, and nonhuman/nonpatient applications such as animal behavior and organizational behavior management.

Impact

HB 5291 would amend sections 16343a, 18253, and 18257 of the Public Health Code, affecting the regulation of applied behavior analysis in Michigan. It would authorize the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, in consultation with the relevant board, to set minimum licensure standards and to adopt professional standards from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board or another national association. It would also create a statutory limited license for supervised trainees and define who may practice without a full license, thereby shaping the scope of practice for behavior analysts, assistant behavior analysts, and related professionals.

Sentiment

The bill appears generally supportive of professional licensure and workforce development in the behavior analysis field. Its structure suggests an effort to formalize standards while also preserving pathways for students and supervised practitioners to gain the experience needed for certification. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or support beyond the bill’s text and framework.

Contention

The main points of contention likely concern how tightly the state should regulate applied behavior analysis, especially the balance between consumer protection and access to supervised training opportunities. Potentially sensitive issues include the scope of practice for psychologists and other licensed professionals, the supervision requirements for trainees, and whether the limited-license pathway is broad enough to support workforce entry without weakening licensure standards. The bill also draws a line between human-patient services and nonhuman or organizational behavior work, which may matter to practitioners in adjacent fields.