An Act amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, further providing for title, for definitions, for State Board of Nursing, for dietitian-nutritionist l . . .icense required, for unauthorized practices and acts not prohibited, for temporary practice permit, for graduates of schools of other states, territories or Dominion of Canada, for persons entitled to practice, for certified registered nurse practitioners and qualifications, for scope of practice for certified registered nurse practitioners, for prescriptive authority for certified registered nurse practitioners, for Drug Review Committee, for professional liability, for reporting of multiple licensure, for continuing nursing education, for punishment for violations, for refusal, suspension or revocation of licenses, for reinstatement of license and for injunction or other process; and providing for the expiration of the State Board of Nursing's power to license certified registered nurse practitioners.
SB25 is a broad update to Pennsylvania’s Professional Nursing Law. Based on the bill caption, it would revise multiple parts of the nursing licensing and regulation framework, including definitions, the State Board of Nursing, licensure requirements, temporary practice permits, recognition of out-of-state graduates and licensees, and disciplinary and reinstatement provisions. It also appears to make targeted changes affecting dietitian-nutritionist licensure and several provisions governing certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs), including qualifications, scope of practice, prescriptive authority, and related oversight by the Drug Review Committee.
The bill also would address professional liability, reporting of multiple licensure, continuing nursing education, penalties for violations, and court enforcement tools such as injunctions. In addition, it would add a new provision ending the State Board of Nursing’s authority to license CRNPs, suggesting a structural change in how advanced practice nursing is regulated in Pennsylvania. Because the full bill text is not available here, the summary is based on the caption and legislative description rather than section-by-section language.
SB25 would amend the Professional Nursing Law and likely affect the licensing, regulation, and discipline of nurses, CRNPs, and related licensed health professionals in Pennsylvania. It would touch multiple statutory provisions governing who may practice, under what conditions temporary or out-of-state practice is allowed, and how the Board of Nursing administers licensure, education, and enforcement. The bill would also likely shift or clarify regulatory authority over CRNP licensing by providing for the expiration of the Board’s power to license CRNPs, which could affect the roles of the Board, applicants, employers, and practicing advanced practice nurses.
There is no committee transcript or recorded vote information available in the provided materials, so the overall sentiment cannot be measured directly from debate or roll call. The bill’s referral to the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee indicates it is being handled as a professional regulation measure. Based on the scope of the caption, the bill appears to be a technical and policy-heavy update to nursing regulation rather than a highly partisan measure, but no direct evidence of support or opposition is available in the supplied record.
The most likely points of contention are the changes to CRNP regulation, especially the bill’s provision ending the State Board of Nursing’s power to license CRNPs, which could raise questions about regulatory authority, professional autonomy, and oversight. Other possible areas of disagreement include scope of practice, prescriptive authority, continuing education requirements, and disciplinary standards, since these provisions can affect both access to care and professional regulation. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided materials.