Respiratory Care Interstate Compact

Kansas Legislative Events

Published April 9th, 2026

Detected April 4th, 2026

Summary

Kansas enacted HB2534 establishing the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, enabling licensed respiratory therapists to obtain practice privileges in other compact member states through a coordinated licensure verification process. The bill passed with strong legislative support (House 121-0, Senate 39-0 on conference report) and awaits the Governor's signature to become law. Healthcare facilities and respiratory therapists should prepare for interstate practice opportunities under the compact framework.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The Kansas Legislature passed HB2534 creating the state's first respiratory care interstate compact, establishing a coordinated licensure system that allows respiratory therapists to practice in other compact member states without obtaining separate state licenses. The compact requires participating states to recognize licenses issued by other member states and creates a shared licensure verification mechanism. This represents a significant expansion of healthcare workforce mobility in Kansas.

Healthcare facilities employing respiratory therapists should review compact requirements and update credentialing procedures to accommodate multi-state licensed practitioners. Respiratory therapists seeking to practice across state lines must ensure they meet compact eligibility criteria and complete the required licensure verification process. The bill was presented to the Governor on April 9, 2026, and will take effect upon signing.

What to do next

Review compact requirements and member state eligibility criteria
Update credentialing and licensure verification procedures for multi-state practice
Assess impact on respiratory therapy staffing and cross-state practice arrangements

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Kansas / HB2534 Enrolled HB2534 House Bill Enrolled 2026-04-09

Enacting the respiratory care interstate compact to provide interstate practice privileges to respiratory therapists.

Bill Details

State Kansas

Session 2025-2026 Regular Session

Chamber House

Official Source kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2...

LegiScan View on LegiScan

Action History

2026-04-09 H House Enrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 3, 2026 2026-04-09 H House Reengrossed on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 2026-03-27 H House Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 123 Nay: 0 2026-03-27 S Senate Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 39 Nay: 0 2026-03-27 S Senate Conference committee report now available 2026-03-24 H House Representative Estes, Representative McNorton, and Representative Stogsdill are appointed to replace Representative Carpenter, W., Representative Bryce, and Representative Ruiz, S. on the Conference Committee 2026-03-24 S Senate Motion to accede adopted; Senator Erickson, Senator Thomas and Senator Sykes appointed as conferees 2026-03-23 H House Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Representative Carpenter, W. , Representative Bryce and Representative Ruiz, S. as conferees 2026-03-19 S Senate Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 39 Nay: 1 2026-03-18 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended 2026-03-18 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted 2026-03-11 S Senate Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Public Health and Welfare 2026-02-25 S Senate Hearing: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 8:30 AM Room 142-S 2026-02-12 S Senate Referred to Committee on Public Health and Welfare 2026-02-11 S Senate Received and Introduced 2026-02-11 H House Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 121 Nay: 0 2026-02-11 H House Engrossed on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 2026-02-10 H House Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended 2026-02-10 H House Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted 2026-02-06 H House Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Health and Human Services 2026-02-04 H House Hearing: Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 1:30 PM Room 112-N 2026-01-23 H House Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services 2026-01-23 H House Introduced

Votes

2026-02-11 House Final Action - Passed as amended - Yea: 121 Nay: 0 Yea: 121 Nay: 0 2026-03-19 Senate Final Action - Passed as amended - Yea: 39 Nay: 1 Yea: 39 Nay: 1 2026-03-27 Senate Conference Committee Report was adopted - Yea: 39 Nay: 0 Yea: 39 Nay: 0 2026-03-27 House Conference Committee Report was adopted - Yea: 123 Nay: 0 Yea: 123 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-01-23 H Health and Human Services 2026-02-12 S Public Health and Welfare

Amendments

2026-02-06 House Committee on Health and Human Services Report 2026-03-11 Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare Report 2026-03-27 Conference Committee Report