One of the most highly regulated industries in this Commonwealth is health care. Due to this immense level of oversight, it is important for all those who are or who hope to practice medicine, or related occupations, in Kentucky to stay informed about regulations.
Typically, there are two areas which govern health care and nursing. One is the administrative regulations issued by the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN). The second, and most relevant here, are the laws issued by the Kentucky legislature.
House Bill 280 (“HB 280”) is a new bill that Governor Beshear signed into law on April 10th, 2026. The Kentucky General Assembly identifies this bill as “AN ACT relating to health care and declaring an emergency.” This does not provide much information for the average health care worker. Therefore, below is summary of the high points of HB 280 and how it may affect registered nurses (RNs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and other health care workers going forward.
KRS 314.041 – New Requirements for New Nurses
HB 280 now makes it necessary to satisfy the following qualifications to apply for an RN license with the KBN.
- “Has completed the basic curriculum for preparing registered nurses in an approved school of nursing and has completed requirements for graduation therefrom…”
- “Is able to understandably speak and write the English language and to read the English language with comprehension…”
- “Has passed the jurisprudence examination approved by the board as provided by subsection (4) of this section…”
These requirements must also be met to receive a temporary work permit when someone is licensed as a registered nurse under the laws of another state or territory. It is important to remain vigilant of these requirements when applying for an RN license in Kentucky, to ensure that the application is processed correctly.
KRS 314.042 – APRNs Beware
APRNs now must enter their “Collaborative Agreement for the Advance Practice Registered Nurse’s Prescriptive Authority for Nonscheduled Legend Drugs” (CAPA-NS) with a physician who has an “active and unrestricted license.”
Previously, Kentucky APRNs simply needed to sign this agreement with a physician licensed in the Commonwealth to be able to prescribe non-scheduled drugs to patients. However, that physician must now have an unencumbered license. An unencumbered license is a license that does not have any active disciplinary or restrictive measures against it. Therefore, APRNs must be aware of the physician’s licensing status before signing a CAPA-NS, to ensure that their practice is legally valid.
KRS 314.109 – 30 Days
Kentucky is a state that requires nurses to report any criminal convictions, other than basic traffic violations, to the Board of Nursing. However, the timing is now shorter than before.
Any individuals under the KBN’s jurisdiction now have only 30 days, as opposed to 90 days, to “notify the board in writing of any misdemeanor or felony criminal conviction, except traffic-related misdemeanors other than operating a motor vehicle, in this or any other jurisdiction.” Therefore, anyone licensed under the KBN will have 30 days to inform the KBN of any criminal convictions. Otherwise, their license may be in danger.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the major legislative updates contained within HB 280. Even simple changes in areas like deadlines or requirements can greatly impact the professional license you have worked so hard for. Our firm tracks these updates to nursing licensures closely. If you are dealing with a nursing licensure issue and need guidance, please contact Strause Law Group, PLLC for assistance.
Sources: House Bill 280
