Governor Ehrlich also signed HB 1249 into law. This legislation makes several changes to continuing education course requirements.

• First, it broadens the subject matter eligible for CE courses.

• Second, it clarifies CE reciprocity for agents seeking credit for courses taken outside of Maryland.

• Third, it mandates an ethics requirement.

• And fourth, it phases in more hours of education for licensees who have held a license for ten years. Under the bill, those licensees will be required to take 9 hours of education in 2006, and 15 hours of education in 2008.