Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Washington Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT HOUSE BILL 2155 Chapter 6, Laws of 2026 69TH LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION NURSING TITLES—USE BY NONHUMAN ENTITIES EFFECTIVE DATE: June 11, 2026—Except for section 2, which takes effect June 30, 2027. Passed by the House February 11, 2026 Yeas 87 Nays 8 LAURIE JINKINS Speaker of the House of Representatives Passed by the Senate February 26, 2026 Yeas 46 Nays 2 DENNY HECK President of the Senate CERTIFICATE I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is HOUSE BILL 2155 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth. BERNARD DEAN Chief Clerk Chief Clerk Approved March 9, 2026 9:24 AM FILED March 10, 2026 BOB FERGUSON Governor of the State of Washington Secretary of State State of Washington HOUSE BILL 2155 Passed Legislature - 2026 Regular Session State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Representatives Obras, Parshley, Kloba, Simmons, Low, Reed, Santos, Zahn, Gregerson, Macri, Salahuddin, and Hill Prefiled 12/16/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness. AN ACT Relating to the use of nursing titles; amending RCW 18.79.030 and 18.79.030; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON: Sec. 1. RCW 18.79.030 and 2023 c 123 s 19 are each amended to read as follows: (1) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to practice as a registered nurse in this state unless that human person has been licensed under this chapter or holds a valid multistate license under chapter 18.80 RCW. A person who holds a license to practice as a registered nurse in this state may use the titles "registered nurse" and "nurse" and the abbreviation "R.N." No other person or any nonhuman entity may assume those titles or use the abbreviation or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to indicate that the person or any nonhuman entity using them is a registered nurse. (2) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to practice as an advanced registered nurse practitioner or as a nurse practitioner in this state unless that human person has been licensed under this chapter. A person who holds a license to practice as an advanced registered nurse practitioner in this state may use the titles "advanced registered nurse practitioner," "nurse practitioner," and "nurse" and the abbreviations "A.R.N.P." and "N.P." No other person or any nonhuman entity may assume those titles or use those abbreviations or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to indicate that the person or any nonhuman entity using them is an advanced registered nurse practitioner or nurse practitioner. (3) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to practice as a licensed practical nurse in this state unless that human person has been licensed under this chapter or holds a valid multistate license under chapter 18.80 RCW. A person who holds a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse in this state may use the titles "licensed practical nurse" and "nurse" and the abbreviation "L.P.N." No other person or any nonhuman entity may assume those titles or use that abbreviation or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to indicate that the person or any nonhuman entity using them is a licensed practical nurse. (4) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person listed as a Christian Science nurse in the Christian Science Journal published by the Christian Science Publishing Society, Boston, Massachusetts, from using the title "Christian Science nurse," so long as such person does not hold himself or herself out as a registered nurse, advanced registered nurse practitioner, nurse practitioner, or licensed practical nurse, unless otherwise authorized by law to do so. Sec. 2. RCW 18.79.030 and 2024 c 239 s 1 are each amended to read as follows: (1) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to practice as a registered nurse in this state unless that human person has been licensed under this chapter or holds a valid multistate license under chapter 18.80 RCW. A person who holds a license to practice as a registered nurse in this state may use the titles "registered nurse" and "nurse" and the abbreviation "R.N." No other person or any nonhuman entity may assume those titles or use the abbreviation or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to indicate that the person or any nonhuman entity using them is a registered nurse. (2) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse or as a nurse practitioner in this state unless that human person has been licensed under this chapter. A person who holds a license to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse in this state may use the titles "advanced practice registered nurse," "nurse practitioner," and "nurse" and the abbreviations "A.P.R.N." and "N.P." No other person or any nonhuman entity may assume those titles or use those abbreviations or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to indicate that the person or any nonhuman entity using them is an advanced practice registered nurse or nurse practitioner. (3) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to practice as a licensed practical nurse in this state unless that human person has been licensed under this chapter or holds a valid multistate license under chapter 18.80 RCW. A person who holds a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse in this state may use the titles "licensed practical nurse" and "nurse" and the abbreviation "L.P.N." No other person or any nonhuman entity may assume those titles or use that abbreviation or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to indicate that the person or any nonhuman entity using them is a licensed practical nurse. (4) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person listed as a Christian Science nurse in the Christian Science Journal published by the Christian Science Publishing Society, Boston, Massachusetts, from using the title "Christian Science nurse," so long as such person does not hold himself or herself out as a registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, nurse practitioner, or licensed practical nurse, unless otherwise authorized by law to do so. NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Section 1 of this act expires June 30, 2027. NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Section 2 of this act takes effect June 30, 2027. Passed by the House February 11, 2026. Passed by the Senate February 26, 2026. Approved by the Governor March 9, 2026. Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 10, 2026.
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