Two states moved to loosen the American Bar Association’s gatekeeping role for law‑licensure. Florida’s Supreme Court removed the ABA‑degree requirement for new lawyers, opening the door for alternative accrediting bodies; Texas made a similar change amid political attacks on the ABA’s diversity, equity and inclusion standards. Governors and state justices framed the actions as efforts to increase access and reduce ideological capture. Legal‑education experts warned most law schools will likely retain ABA accreditation because it eases multi‑state practice and bar admission, but the policy changes create opportunities for new accreditors and experimental programs focused on affordability and workforce alignment. The moves also highlight how broader anti‑DEI politics are reshaping professional licensure rules and could presage further fragmentation in accreditation practices across higher education and professional schools.