HB 548 — ACCOUNTANTS/CPA: Provides for the regulation of certified public accountants and the State Board of Certified Public Accountants of Louisiana (EN SEE FISC NOTE SG RV)

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, may adopt a rule allowing an individual who offers or renders professional services, whether in person, by mail, telephone, or electronic means, under this Section to be granted practice privileges in this statestatewithout withoutgivingnoticeto giving noticeto theboardorpayinganyfee.

SuchanindividualSuch shallbesubjecttotherequirementsofParagraph(3)ofthisSubsection.orotherwisean notifyindividual orshallbesubjecttotherequirementsofParagraph(3)ofthisSubsection.orotherwise notifyor register with the board or payanyfee, if at the time of initial licensure, the individual was required to show evidence of having passed the uniform CPA examination and having met one of the following requirements:

Page(b) 5A post-baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a college or university, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent, and not less than one year of 9experience, CODING:both as defined by board rule.

(c) Abaccalaureateorhigherdegreeconferredbyacollegeoruniversity,the total educationalprogram to include an accountingconcentration or equivalent, and not less than two years of experience, both as defined byboard rule.

(2) An individual whose principal place of business is not in this state and who holds a valid active license as a certified public accountant in good standing from any state as of December 31, 2024, and who, as of that date, had practice privileges in this state in accordance with this Section, which the board or its designee has not verified to be in substantial equivalence with the licensure requirements of this Part shall be presumed to have qualifications substantially equivalentto this state's requirementsandshall continueto haveall theprivilegesof activelicenseesofthisstatewithouttheneedtoobtainalicenserequiredbythis Part Page 5 of 6 CODING:

HLS 26RS-699 ENGROSSED HB NO.

548 (b)ENROLLED A post-baccalaureate or higherto degreeotherwise conferrednotify by a college or university,register with the totalboard educationalor programpay toany includefee, anif accountingsuch concentrationindividual orverifies equivalent,that andsuch notindividual's lessCPA thanqualifications oneare yearsubstantiallyequivalent ofto experience,the bothCPA aslicensure definedrequirements byboardrequired rule.bythis Part.

(c) Abaccalaureateorhigherdegreeconferredbyacollegeoruniversity,the total educationalprogram to include an accountingconcentrationor equivalent, and not less than two years of experience, both as defined byboard rule.

(2) An individual whose principal place of business is not in this state and who holds a valid active license as a certified public accountant in good standing from any state as of December 31, 2024, and who, as of that date, had practice privileges in this state in accordance with this Section, which the board or its designee has not verified to be in substantial equivalence with the licensure requirements of this Part shall be presumed to have qualifications substantially equivalentto this state's requirementsandshall continueto haveall theprivilegesof activelicenseesofthisstatewithout theneedtoobtainalicenserequiredbythisPart or to otherwise notify or register with the board or pay any fee, if such individual verifies that such individual's CPA qualifications are substantially equivalent to the CPA licensure requirements required bythis Part.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, may adopt a rule allowing an individual who offers orrendersprofessionalservices,whetherinperson,bymail,orrendersprofessionalservices,whetherinperson,bymail,telephone,orelectronic telephone,orelectronic means, under this Section to be granted practice privileges in this state without giving notice to the board or paying any fee.

PageSPEAKER 6OF ofTHE 9HOUSE CODING:OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscoredPage are6 additions.of 6 CODING:

HLS 26RS-699 ENGROSSED HB NO.

548 DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.

It constitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.

The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 548 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Beaullieu Abstract:

Provides for the regulation of certified public accountants and the State Board of Certified Public Accountants of La.

Present law defines "substantial equivalency" or "substantially equivalent".

Proposed law repeals those definitions.

Present law provides qualifications for members of the State Board of Certified Public Accountants of La.

(board).

Proposed law adds that board members shall be selected from diverse practice and professional areas, including but not limited to tax, audit, and education.

Present law grants the board powers, including power to cooperate in enforcement with appropriate foreign regulatory authorities, which grant substantially equivalent foreign designations under present law (R.S.

37:76(G)), in instances which have or may result in criminal conviction, loss of license or suspension, admonishment or censure.

Proposedlawgrants the board powers to cooperatein enforcementwith appropriateforeign regulatoryauthorities,whichgrantcomparableforeigndesignationsunderpresentlaw(R.S.

37:76(G)), in those instances.

Present law provides that the board may adopt rules governing administration and enforcement of the conduct of holders of a certificate, license, or permit including rules governing substantial equivalency.

Proposed law amends present law, changing substantial equivalency to mobility practice privileges.

Presentlawprovideseducationalrequirementsforanapplicantforinitial issuanceofaCPA certificate.

Proposed law requires that an applicant for initial issuance of a CPA certificate show that he has completed one of the following educational pathways:

(1) A baccalaureateor higher degree plus an additional 30 semester hours conferred by a college or university acceptable to the board, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined bythe board to be appropriate.

(2) Apost-baccalaureateorhigherdegreeconferredbyacollegeoruniversityacceptable to the board, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined bythe board to be appropriate.

(3) A baccalaureate or higher degree conferred bya college or university acceptable to the board, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by the board to be appropriate.

Page 7 of 9 CODING:

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-699 ENGROSSED HB NO.

548 Proposed law requires that the applicant show the board that he has completed one year of experience before he is issued a certificate on the basis of educational pathways (1) or (2), and two years of experiences on the basis of educational pathway(3).

Present law provides for issuance or renewal of certificates to persons who demonstrate eligibility under the substantial equivalency standard.

Proposed law changes this to persons who demonstrate eligibility under the mobility standard.

Present law provides licensing requirements for applicants who do not qualify under the substantial equivalency standard.

Proposed law amends present law and provides licensing requirements for applicants who do not qualify under the mobility standard.

Present law provides that the board shall issue an active certificate to a person who desires to establish his principal place of business in this state whose CPA qualifications are substantiallyequivalent to the CPA licensure requirements of present law as determined by the board or its designee.

ProposedlawamendspresentlawtoprovidethattheCPAqualificationsneedbecomparable to the CPA licensure requirements of present law.

Present law provides that the board may issue a certificate to a holder of a substantially equivalent foreign designation provided that person received the designation based on educational and examination standards substantially equivalent to those of this state, and completed an experience requirement substantiallyequivalent to those of this state.

Proposed law amends the standard from "substantially equivalent" to "comparable".

Present law provides for practiceprivileges without the needto obtaina license as provided in present law for CPAs who have an active, valid license from another state that has substantially equivalent licensure requirements.

Proposed law amends present law to change the standard for mobilitypracticefrom outside the state, and provides that the person with an active valid license in good standing from another state shall have the privileges of active licensees of this state, and will not have to notifyorregisterwiththeBoardprovidedheshowsevidencehehaspassedtheuniformCPA examination and has met one of the following requirements:

(1) A baccalaureateor higher degree plus an additional 30 semester hours conferred by a college or university, the total educational program to include an accounting concentrationorequivalent,andnotlessthanoneyearofexperience,bothasdefined by board rule.

(2) A post-baccalaureateor higher degree conferred bya college or university, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent, and not less than one year of experience, both as defined byboard rule.

(3) A baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a college or university, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent, and not less than two years of experience, both as defined byboard rule.

Proposedlawprovidesthatanindividualwhoseprincipalplaceofbusinessisnotinthisstate and who holds a valid active license as a certified public accountant in good standing from any state as of Dec.

31, 2024, and who, as of that date, had practice privileges in this state under present law shall continue to have all the privileges of active licensees of this state Page 8 of 9 CODING:

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-699 ENGROSSED HB NO.

548 without the need to obtain a license required by present and proposed law or to otherwise notify or register with the board or payany fee.

Present law requires a fee to be collected by the board for notice under substantial equivalency.

Proposed law repeals that fee.

(Amends R.S.

37:74(B)(1), (H)(2),and (J)(7), 75(G), 76(A)(1), (C)(1)(intro.

para.) and (2), (G)(intro.

para.) and (3), and 94(A)(1) and (2);

Repeals R.S.

37:73(19) and 74.1(3)) Page 9 of 9 CODING: