Governor Gianforte Appoints Licensing Reform Task Force Members

Governor's Office

HELENA, Mont. - Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the membership of the Licensing Reform Task Force, fulfilling his commitment to streamline state government and make it easier for Montanans to enter the workforce.

The task force, established by executive order in January, is tasked with identifying and recommending the elimination of unnecessary or redundant professional and occupational licensing requirements, with a focus on construction and health care industries.

"Montana is open for business, and that means we must ensure our regulatory environment is efficient and helps Montanans pursue the American dream," Gov. Gianforte said. "The members of this task force will help us cut the red tape that has built up over decades, allowing more Montanans to enter the workforce and contribute to our growing economy."

The task force is chaired by Sarah Swanson, Commissioner of the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI). The bipartisan, diverse task force includes members across a wide range of industries affected by state licensing.

"I look forward to working with this group to modernize Montana's licensing framework. The Licensing Task Force is about ensuring occupational licensing protects the public without unnecessarily standing in the way of Montanans who are qualified to work," Commissioner Swanson said. "Time to licensure matters. Montana's 406 JOBS initiative is focused on connecting people to meaningful work through clear pathways and systems that function the way they're intended. This task force is dedicated to just that - improving process so that our licensing systems support both public safety and a strong, responsive workforce across Montana."

Members of the Licensing Reform Task Force include:

• Sarah Swanson, Commissioner, Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Chair
• Sen. Derek Harvey, D-Butte
• Sen. Mark Noland, R-Bigfork
• Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings
• Rep. Jodee Etchart, R-Billings
• Rep. Josh Seckinger, D-Bozeman
• Rep. Morgan Thiel, R-Sidney
• Charlie Brereton, Director, Department of Public Health & Human Services
• Eric Strauss, Director, Montana Department of Corrections
• Stacey Anderson, Montana Primary Care Association
• Dr. Serena Brewer, Montana Medical Association
• Webb Brown, Montana Dental Association
• Ed Buttrey, Montana Hospital Association
• Bob Dean, Montana Contractors Association
• John Harding, Montana Home Builders Association
• Jennifer Hensley, Montana Speech Language Hearing Association, Montana Occupational Therapy Association, Montana Academy of Physician Assistants
• Troy Jensen, Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
• Tony King, Montana Pharmacy Association
• Allen Lloyd, Montana Society of CPAs
• Brad Longcake, Montana Dental Hygienists' Association, Montana Funeral Directors Association
• Kelly Lynch, Montana League of Cities & Towns
• Kristin McColly, Montana Board of Nursing
• Amy Nerison, Montana Psychiatric Association, American Medical Response
• Alison Paul, Montana Legal Services Association
• Sierra Riseberg, Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana
• Jason Small, Montana AFL-CIO
• Gail Tronstad, Public Member, Montana Board of Pharmacy
• Tanner Avery, Frontier Institute

The task force will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, February 10. The task force must deliver a final report and recommendations due to the governor for his consideration by September 2, 2026. All meetings will be open to the public.

The formation of the task force comes as Gov. Gianforte announced the 406 JOBS initiative, which identifies 12 priorities across the workforce system, including both private and public sectors, to drive innovation, remove red tape, and foster collaboration between state agencies. Occupational licensing review is included among the action items, as a part of a statewide commitment to reducing barriers to employment.

For more information and updates on the task force, visit esd.dli.mt.gov/licensing-task-force. The governor's executive order creating the task force may be viewed here.

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