Requiring that advanced practice registered nurses and registered nurse anesthetists submit to a criminal history check upon application for a nursing license.
HB 2478 requires advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and registered nurse anesthetists (RNAs) to undergo criminal background checks when applying for a nursing license in Kansas. The bill amends Kansas law to mandate fingerprinting and state/national criminal history checks for these specific nursing applicants during the licensing process. Applicants must pay fees that cover the cost of background checks, with funds collected into a new "criminal background and fingerprinting fund" managed by the Board of Nursing. This policy change directly affects APRN and RNA license seekers by adding a mandatory background check step to their application requirements.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 20, 2026
Signed Mar 23, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
As Introduced
→
Enrolled
·
1 edit
·
Mar 23, 2026
MINOR
The bill was finalized and certified for enactment, removing draft session headers and adding official signatures from the House, Senate, and Governor. The substantive policy content regarding criminal background checks for nursing applicants remains unchanged.
Scope change
null
TECHNICAL
Removed draft session year and committee attribution headers; added certification language and signature lines for House, Senate, and Governor approval.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
12
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Mar 23, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on Friday, March 20, 2026
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Final Action - Passed; Yea 38, Nay 1, Absent 1
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed by Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Introduced
Received and Introduced
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Final Action - Passed; Yea 117, Nay 4, Absent 4
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed by House Committee on Health and Human Services
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Committee
Referred to House Committee on Health and Human Services
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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