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Read. Follow. Verify.Kansas enacts the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact to grant multistate practice privileges for respiratory therapists
Last action · April 9, 2026: Reengrossed on Tuesday, March 31, 2026
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What This Bill Does
Kansas enacts the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, allowing licensed respiratory therapists from member states to practice in other member states through a streamlined . The law establishes the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Commission to administer the agreement, manage a coordinated data system, and set binding rules. The act takes effect upon publication in the statute book.
The measure changes licensing portability for respiratory therapists by permitting eligible practitioners to offer care across state lines without obtaining a separate full license in every member state. It creates standardized reporting requirements for disciplinary actions and establishes Commission oversight for participating states.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Respiratory therapists
Licensed respiratory therapists may obtain compact privileges to practice in remote member states under specified eligibility requirements.
Active military members and their spouses
Active military personnel and their spouses retain home state designations while deployed and are exempt from commission fees for compact privileges.
Respiratory therapy licensing authorities
State licensing boards must participate in the commission's data system, conduct criminal background checks, report adverse actions, and process compact privileges.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main purpose of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact?
Are active military members and their spouses required to pay fees to the commission for a compact privilege?
What requirements must a therapist meet to exercise the compact privilege?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
26 actions- Apr 9, 2026HouseReengrossed on Tuesday, March 31, 2026
- Apr 9, 2026HouseEnrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 3, 2026
- Apr 9, 2026HouseEnrolledApproved by Governor on Thursday, April 9, 2026
- Mar 27, 2026SenateConference committee report now available
- Mar 27, 2026SenateFloorConference Committee Report was adopted
- Mar 27, 2026HouseFloorConference Committee Report was adopted
Show 20 earlier actions
- Mar 24, 2026SenateFloorMotion to accede adopted; Senator Erickson, Senator Thomas, Senator Sykes, , appointed as conferees
- Mar 24, 2026HouseRepresentative Estes, Representative McNorton, and Representative Stogsdill are appointed to replace Representative Carpenter, Representative Bryce, and Representative Ruiz on the Conference Committee
- Mar 23, 2026HouseNonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed , and
- Mar 19, 2026SenateFloorFinal Action - Passed as amended
- Mar 18, 2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Now working on
- Mar 18, 2026SenateFloorCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
- Mar 18, 2026SenateFloorCommittee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
- Mar 11, 2026SenateFloorCommittee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by
- Feb 25, 2026SenateHearing: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 8:30 AM — Room 142-S
- Feb 12, 2026SenateCommitteeReferred to Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
- Feb 11, 2026HouseEngrossed on Tuesday, February 10, 2026
- Feb 11, 2026HouseFloorFinal Action - Passed as amended
- Feb 11, 2026SenateIntroducedReceived and Introduced
- Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee of the Whole - Now working on
- Feb 10, 2026HouseFloorCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
- Feb 10, 2026HouseFloorCommittee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
- Feb 6, 2026HouseFloorCommittee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by
- Feb 4, 2026HouseHearing: Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 1:30 PM — Room 112-N
- Jan 23, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced
- Jan 23, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to House Committee on Health and Human Services
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Adoption of Interstate Licensure Framework
The state transitions from isolated single-state licensure to a coordinated multistate compact framework for respiratory therapists.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.kslegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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