In this second installment of our awards series, host Line Dempsey continues highlighting CLEAR’s 2025 award recipients and their impact on public protection. Cindy Reinhardt of the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations shares how her team’s investigation into the Return to Nature funeral home uncovered egregious misconduct, led to criminal charges and emergency regulatory action, and prompted legislative reforms that strengthened oversight statewide. The episode also features leaders from the Utah Department of Commerce, whose collaborative work to modernize behavioral health licensure and establish a forward-looking framework for AI in mental health expanded access while reinforcing consumer safeguards. Together, these conversations reflect regulatory excellence in action and the power of collaboration to drive meaningful reform.

Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode99_awards2025-2_031026_transcript.pdf

During CLEAR’s recent midyear business meetings in Nashville, we conducted our annual environmental scan, asking committee members to share the top trends, challenges, and policy developments they’re seeing across jurisdictions. These environmental scans are consistently cited as one of the most valuable aspects of CLEAR’s committee work, offering early insight into emerging issues and practical approaches from colleagues around the globe.

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, we highlight key themes from this year’s discussions, including the expanding role of artificial intelligence in testing and fraud prevention, legislative and executive pressures on regulatory operations, labor mobility initiatives, internationally trained practitioner pathways, sunrise and sunset review trends, scope of practice expansion, neutrality legislation affecting professional regulation, and evolving approaches to delegation and public protection.

Join us as we share insights from regulators and policy leaders across multiple jurisdictions, connecting CLEAR members to the conversations shaping professional regulation in 2026 and beyond.

Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode98_Environmental_Scan_021726_transcript.pdf

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey explores the newly released CLEAR Principles for Ethical and Effective AI in Professional Regulation with working group members Paul Byrne, Kelly Parker, and Candice Alder. The discussion examines why CLEAR stepped forward to develop a shared, principle-based framework for artificial intelligence at a time of rapid technological change and fragmented global adoption. Centered on three core commitments—professional competence, human-centered ethics, and trust through oversight—the conversation highlights the importance of maintaining human accountability, safeguarding public trust, and ensuring transparency as AI tools are integrated into regulatory work. From practical applications like administrative triage and document verification to deeper questions of explainability, informed consent, and governance, the episode offers regulators a thoughtful roadmap for adopting AI responsibly while preserving the integrity and authority of professional regulation.

Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode97_AI_principles_011326_transcript.pdf

In keeping with the topic, this episode summary was developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by CLEAR staff to ensure accuracy, clarity, and alignment with the values of professional regulation.

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey sits down with two of CLEAR’s 2025 award recipients whose work demonstrates the power of innovation and dedication in public protection. Camile Lindsay from the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation shares how the CORE modernization project is transforming licensing across the state—streamlining processes, improving transparency, and keeping the human experience at the center. Then, Utah’s Kelsey Hammack discusses her investigative work uncovering widespread consumer harm in the solar industry, resulting in restitution, enforcement action, and landmark legislative reforms. Together, these conversations highlight regulatory excellence in action and the profound impact it can have on both consumers and licensees.

Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode96_awards2025-1_120925_transcript.pdf

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey is joined by exam security leaders Wally Dalrymple (ETS), Roddy Meade (Prometric), and Harry Samit (Pearson VUE) to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of licensure exam integrity. The guests discuss how testing organizations are combating cheating through layered security—from 360° room scans and AI-assisted proctoring to undercover investigations and data forensics. They examine both the human and technical dimensions of exam fraud, including organized cheating rings, proxy testing, and emerging threats like deepfakes and generative AI. Together, they share how collaboration, education, and deterrence strategies are essential in maintaining public trust and protecting the pathways into licensed professions.

Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode95_exam_security_integrity_111125_transcript.pdf

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey speaks with Stuart Wilkinson, Chief Consumer Officer at Ontario’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), about practical approaches to consumer engagement in regulation. Stuart explains how FSRA amplifies the consumer voice through research and a consumer advisory panel, ensuring that consumer experiences with regulated services inform regulatory priorities. He shares examples of how this work has shaped FSRA’s operations, from developing a vulnerability framework to integrating consumer insights into supervision plans. The discussion also addresses common challenges regulators face when engaging the public and why listening to consumers is essential to protecting the public interest.

Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode94_consumer_engagement_101425_transcript.pdf

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR Conversation, host Line Dempsey continues CLEAR’s Telling Our Story series with board members Mark Steinagel, Jessica Kallipolites, and Shilo Tooze. Together, they reflect on their first encounters with CLEAR, the connections that drew them into committee and board service, and the lasting impact of conference learnings on their regulatory work. The discussion highlights themes of compassion in regulation, the importance of trust with the public, and the value of adapting to change. With stories of practical policy shifts, professional growth, and organizational improvement, the conversation illustrates how CLEAR fosters collaboration and equips regulators to meet emerging challenges while shaping the future of regulatory excellence.

Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode93_AEC_Impact_Story_090925_transcript.pdf

The August episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR Conversation focuses on the upcoming CLEAR Annual Educational Conference, taking place in Chicago, Illinois. Camile Lindsay, Director of the Division of Financial and Professional Regulation in Illinois, shares key findings from the state’s CLIMB Task Force report, which addresses unnecessary licensure barriers—especially for justice-involved individuals and professions like hair braiding. She outlines IDFPR’s proactive reforms, including system modernization, community engagement, and legislative initiatives. Then, keynote speaker and economist Jeff Korzenik offers a compelling preview of his upcoming talk on labor force participation, second-chance hiring, and what the U.S. can learn from countries like Japan in addressing workforce shortages. Together, these conversations highlight how licensing bodies can balance public protection with inclusive policies that foster opportunity and economic resilience.

Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode92_AEC_preview_081225_transcript.pdf