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Collateral Consequences Resource Center Collateral Consequences of Criminal Conviction and Restoration of Rights News Commentary and Tools Menu Roundup of fair chance licensing reforms in 2024 Expanding employment opportunities in licensed occupations has been a priority for criminal record reformers in the past half dozen years. Happily fair chance licensing reforms also appear less politically controversial than some others with Midwestern states like Iowa and Indiana among the most progressive in the Nation in their treatment of justiceimpacted license applicants in the licensing process. In the first half of 2024 two more Midwestern states South Dakota and Nebraska enacted comprehensive changes to their licensing laws Colorado produced a major reform in its licensing scheme and Pennsylvania closed a gaping loophole in its licensing rules. These major reforms continue a nationwide trend that since 2017 has seen 44 states and the District of Columbia enact 86 separate laws to limit state power to deny workplace opportunities to qualified individuals based on their criminal history.