Texas Action recommends supporting HB 218 because it supports our principles of limited government, individual liberty, and personal responsibility. This bill helps promote individual liberty by eliminating a barrier to entry in the relevant licensed professions and allows those professionals struggling under the weight of student loan debt the ability to do continue to earn a living. HB 218 promotes personal responsibility by allowing those in debt or default on their loans to earn money to pay their loan off.
To be clear, we believe people should pay their student loan debts. We do not believe default on loan debt should have any bearing on occupational licensure. Denying or suspending a professional license based on student loan default is self-defeating because it makes people less able to repay their debt.
