House Bill 2748 adds a new restriction to Oregon’s nursing statutes prohibiting nonhuman entities, including artificial intelligence agents, from using certain protected nursing titles. The bill specifically bars AI or other nonhuman entities from identifying themselves as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Registered Nurse (RN), Nurse Practitioner (NP), Certified Medication Aide (CMA), or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
The measure is aimed at preventing confusion or misrepresentation in health care settings by reserving professional nursing titles for actual licensed human practitioners. It amends the Oregon Revised Statutes chapter governing nursing regulation by adding the new prohibition to ORS 678.010 to 678.410, thereby strengthening title protection for nursing-related credentials.
Impact
HB 2748 changes Oregon law by expressly prohibiting nonhuman entities, including AI-powered agents, from using protected nursing titles. The practical effect is to reinforce existing professional title protections under Oregon’s nursing regulatory framework and give regulators a clearer basis to address misleading use of nursing credentials by automated systems, software, or other nonhuman actors. The bill affects health care providers, technology developers, employers, and any entity marketing or deploying AI tools in clinical or patient-facing contexts.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition. It passed the House committee unanimously, cleared the House on a strong vote, received a favorable Senate committee recommendation with amendments, and then passed the Senate and House concurrence with comfortable margins. The voting pattern suggests general agreement that the measure is a narrow consumer- and patient-protection step rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to be limited and technical rather than ideological. The Senate committee vote was not unanimous, indicating at least some concern about the scope or drafting of the amendment, but the final floor votes were still strongly favorable. Any debate likely centered on how broadly to define “nonhuman entity,” whether the bill could affect legitimate AI-assisted health tools, and whether title restrictions should be extended to other professional designations beyond nursing.