HR5520-119

What This Bill Does

The Portal for Appraisal Licensing Act of 2025 modernizes appraiser and appraisal management company licensing infrastructure. It requires the Appraisal Subcommittee to establish and maintain a cloud-based Portal for Appraiser Credentialing and AMC Registration Information. The portal must serve as a central depository for appraiser license and certification applications, appraiser renewal applications, appraisal management company registration applications, and renewals. It must connect with state appraiser certifying and licensing agencies so they can access application information, education records, experience logs, examination results, background-check information, and other required material. The portal must also support payment of license, certification, and registration fees and delivery of letters of good standing to state agencies. The Attorney General must give state appraisal officials access to criminal-history information when state law requires background checks, and the Appraisal Subcommittee may serve as a channeling agent between state agencies and DOJ to reduce separate FBI contact points.

Who Benefits and How

Licensed appraisers benefit because applications, renewals, fee payment, and good-standing letters can move through one federal portal. Appraisal management companies benefit from a centralized registration and renewal process across state systems. State appraiser licensing agencies benefit because the portal aggregates education, experience, exam, background-check, and payment information. Mortgage lenders benefit indirectly from more uniform appraisal credentialing and AMC registration records.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Appraisal Subcommittee IT staff must build, maintain, and connect the cloud-based portal with state licensing systems. DOJ criminal-history staff must provide access to records needed for state appraiser and AMC background checks. FBI background-check coordinators may have to route fewer but more centralized requests through the Appraisal Subcommittee. Appraisers and AMC applicants must submit information through the new portal workflow once implemented.

Key Provisions

• Requires a cloud-based portal for appraiser credentialing and appraisal management company registration.
• Creates a central depository for license, certification, registration, and renewal applications.
• Provides state agencies access to education, experience, exam, background-check, and payment information.
• Allows the Appraisal Subcommittee to channel criminal-history requests between state agencies and DOJ.