All Roll Calls
Yes: 482 • No: 172
KansasHB 25282025–2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Requiring all state board of nursing actions related to certain nonpractice violations be void, allowing for late license renewal for professional, practical and advanced practice registered nurses, setting fees for late license renewal, limiting unprofessional conduct to acts related to the practice of nursing, prohibiting the board from taking retaliatory action against a licensee based on certain lawful actions and creating a civil cause of action for violation thereof, requiring termination of current board members on January 1, 2027 and requiring the governor to appoint interim board members subject to senate confirmation and requiring the board to issue refunds for overpayment or duplicate payment.
Sponsored By: Committee on Health and Human Services
Signed by Governor
senate committee on public health and welfarehouse committee on health and human services
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
12 provisions identified: 11 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Nurses gain protection against board retaliation
The Board cannot retaliate against nursing licensees or applicants for lawful acts done in good faith. Protected acts include public statements, protected disclosures, appeals, grievances, and helping or testifying to oversight or law-enforcement bodies. An affected person can sue within two years of the violation for damages, court orders, and other appropriate relief. A winning plaintiff receives the specified damages or $10,000, whichever is greater, plus suit costs and reasonable attorney fees.
Nurses face narrower discipline and fines
Unprofessional conduct is limited to intentional or careless acts tied to nursing practice that cause or are likely to cause patient harm. The change applies retroactively and excludes unrelated behavior, including late renewals and late payment of civil debts. The Board can impose civil fines only for nursing-practice violations proven by clear and convincing evidence, with notice and a hearing opportunity. It cannot fine people for initial or renewal licensing activity. Maximum fines remain $1,000 for a first violation, $2,000 for a second, and $3,000 for later violations.
Nurses get late renewal and refunds
Covered nursing licenses stay active for 30 days after the renewal date, allowing late renewal with required materials and fees. If required fees are not received within 30 days, the license lapses and the nurse cannot practice. Reinstatement requires Board approval, fees due, and proof of continuing education. Late-renewal application fees cannot exceed $300 for single-state, multistate, or advanced practice nursing licenses. Applicants and licensees can request refunds for overpayments, duplicate payments, or other circumstances the Board finds reasonable.
Nursing investigations gain deadlines and expertise
Beginning January 1, 2027, qualifying Board investigations close 22 months after the Board first learns of an alleged violation. Closure does not apply if discipline is filed, the person enters a consent agreement or diversion, or causes significant delay. Closed investigations cannot reopen, but their records can support a new investigation of a similar allegation. Investigations generally must include a nurse with clinical or professional experience similar to the person charged. That experience requirement does not apply to allegations unrelated to nursing practice.
Some past nursing discipline becomes void
The law voids covered nursing discipline and records created from January 1, 2005, through the day before it took effect. Coverage includes specified application, renewal, reinstatement, and lapsed-license violations—not discipline based on other violations. The Board cannot report void material and must notify prior recipients and take reasonable steps to stop its spread. The records are confidential, but that protection expires July 1, 2031, unless lawmakers renew it. People harmed by Board noncompliance occurring before September 1, 2026, can sue within two years of the violation. Relief includes actual damages, court orders, suit costs, and reasonable attorney fees; survivors can pursue claims for deceased licensees.
Compact nurses can decline workforce surveys
The Board can request reasonably determined workforce information from nurses practicing in Kansas under a compact multistate license. Providing that information is voluntary. The Board cannot discipline a nurse or restrict the multistate license solely because the nurse refuses.
Good-faith nursing reports gain legal protection
People reporting nursing malpractice or a nurse's qualifications, fitness, or character gain protection from civil damages. Their reports to the Board must be under oath and made in good faith, considering all the circumstances. Nursing associations and committee members also gain civil-liability protection for qualifying good-faith investigations and communications. They must not present claims they do not reasonably believe are true or leave out known material facts.
Nurses gain help with hearing costs
When the Board loses a covered proceeding, it must pay case costs and 50% of reasonable attorney fees. The Board generally cannot charge applicants or licensees for using an administrative law judge. It can collect those judge-related costs only when every Board member has a conflict preventing them from conducting the hearing.
Nursing students get transcripts faster
Approved professional and practical nursing schools must electronically release transcripts within five business days of a request. This applies to current and former students who need a transcript for licensure or testing.
New nursing board members and notice rules
The governor appoints an 11-member nursing board: six registered or advanced practice nurses, two practical nurses, and three public members. Members must be U.S. citizens and Kansas residents; nurse members must meet license, experience, and active-practice requirements. Specified elected state officials and legislators cannot serve while holding those offices. Current terms end July 1, 2026; interim members serve until the first day of the 2027 regular legislative session. Appointees beginning that day serve while awaiting Senate confirmation, then serve statutory terms if confirmed. The Board must email licensees with addresses on file at least 60 days before an intended action; the supplied text does not identify which actions trigger this notice.
Nursing education providers avoid annual fees
Approval for a single continuing nursing education offering lasts two years. Providers can hold that offering once or multiple times during the approval period. Providers approved for a single offering do not owe an annual fee or file an annual report.
Faster nurse renewals require current contacts
The Board must grant nursing license renewals within five business days after receiving all required materials, including for advanced practice nurses. It must send professional and practical nurses renewal notices at least 60 days ahead, unless they opt out. Digital reminders are due at least 60 and seven days ahead; notices are unnecessary once a license is renewed. The Board must send digital receipts and renewal notices. Nurses must provide current contact details at renewal and report changes to their name, address, phone number, or email.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Committee on Health and Human Services
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 87 Nay: 38
Yes: 87 • No: 38
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 32 Nay: 8
Yes: 32 • No: 8
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 88 Nay: 34
Yes: 88 • No: 34
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 34 Nay: 6
Yes: 34 • No: 6
Senate vote • 3/26/2026
Conference Committee Report was adopted
Yes: 32 • No: 8
House vote • 3/26/2026
Conference Committee Report was adopted
Yes: 87 • No: 38
Senate vote • 3/19/2026
Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended
Yes: 34 • No: 6
House vote • 2/19/2026
Final Action - Passed as amended
Yes: 88 • No: 34
Actions Timeline
Reengrossed on Sunday, March 29, 2026
4/9/2026HouseEnrolled and presented to Governor on Monday, March 30, 2026
4/9/2026HouseApproved by Governor on Tuesday, April 7, 2026
4/7/2026HouseConference committee report now available
3/26/2026SenateConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 32, Nay 8
3/26/2026SenateConference committee report now available
3/26/2026HouseConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 87, Nay 38
3/26/2026HouseConference committee report now available
3/25/2026SenateConference Committee Report agree to disagree adopted; Sen. Beverly Gossage, Sen. William Clifford and Sen. Cindy Holscher appointed as second conferees
3/25/2026SenateConference Committee Report agree to disagree adopted; Rep. Will Carpenter, Rep. Ron Bryce and Rep. Susan Ruiz appointed as second conferees
3/25/2026HouseMotion to accede adopted; Sen. Beverly Gossage, Sen. William Clifford and Sen. Cindy Holscher appointed as conferees
3/24/2026SenateNonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Will Carpenter, Rep. Ron Bryce and Rep. Susan Ruiz
3/23/2026HouseCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
3/19/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Sen. Pat Pettey
3/19/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Amendment by Sen. Pat Pettey was rejected
3/19/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Sen. Pat Pettey
3/19/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Amendment by Sen. Pat Pettey was rejected
3/19/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Sen. Stephen Owens
3/19/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Amendment by Sen. Stephen Owens was adopted
3/19/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Be passed as further amended
3/19/2026SenateEmergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 34, Nay 6
3/19/2026SenateCommittee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
3/18/2026SenateHearing: Thursday, March 12, 2026, 8:30 AM — Room 142-S
3/12/2026SenateReferred to Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
2/26/2026SenateReceived and Introduced
2/25/2026Senate
Bill Text
As Amended by House Committee
As Amended by Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
As Introduced
Enrolled
{As Amended by House Committee of the Whole}
{As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole}
Related Bills
SB 430, Adding mitragynine to schedule I of the uniform controlled substances act and reconciling multiple amendments to certain statutes in the Kansas criminal code.
SB 82, Providing tax credits for expenditures for lockable gun and ammunition storage and the retail sale of higher ethanol blends of fuel, discontinuing the tax credit for qualified alternative-fueled motor vehicle property or fueling station expenditures, repealing the agritourism liability insurance, assistive technology contributions, declared disaster capital investment, owners promoting employment across Kansas and swine facility improvement tax credits and expanding the eligibility for applicable expenses under the child day care services assistance tax credit.
SB 300, Providing for the apportionment of business income by manufacturers of alcoholic liquor depending on whether the taxpayer is a qualifying Kansas investor or a general manufacturer and removing obsolete reference to global intangible low-taxed income provided for under the federal internal revenue code in determining Kansas adjusted gross income.
HB 2029, Reconciling multiple amendments to certain statutes.
HB 2018, Senate Substitute for HB 2018 by Committee on Federal and State Affairs - Creating the crime of interference with the conduct of a religious assembly, providing criminal penalties therefor and providing for a civil cause of action for damages.
HB 2036, Providing a Kansas income tax subtraction modification for certain amounts received as compensation for members of the armed forces.