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HLS 26RS-1866 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1114
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILFORD CARTER
NURSES: Provide relative to licensing by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 37:921, relative to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing; to
3 provide for disciplinary proceedings; to provide for the reinstatement of suspended
4 licenses in certain circumstances; to provide for the medical evaluation of licensees
5 with substance abuse disorders; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 37:921 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 §921. Grounds for disciplinary proceedings; reinstatement
9 A. The board may deny, revoke, suspend, probate, limit, or restrict any
10 license to practice as a registered nurse or an advanced practice registered nurse,
11 impose fines, and assess costs, or otherwise discipline a licensee and the board may
12 limit, restrict, delay, or deny a student nurse from entering or continuing the clinical
13 phase of nursing education upon proof that the licensee or student nurse:
14 (1) Is guilty of selling or attempting to sell, falsely obtaining, or furnishing
15 any nursing diploma or license to practice as a registered nurse.
16 (2) Is convicted of a crime or offense which reflects the inability of the
17 nurse to practice nursing with due regard for the health and safety of clients or
18 patients or enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a criminal charge regardless
19 of final disposition of the criminal proceeding, including, but not limited to,
20 expungement or nonadjudication.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1866 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1114
1 (3) Is unfit or incompetent by reason of negligence, habit, or other cause.
2 (4) Has demonstrated actual or potential inability to practice nursing with
3 reasonable skill and safety to individuals because of use of alcohol or drugs; or has
4 demonstrated inability to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety to
5 individuals because of illness or as a result of any mental or physical condition.
6 (5) Is guilty of aiding or abetting anyone in the violation of any provisions
7 of this Part.
8 (6) Is mentally incompetent.
9 (7) Has had a license to practice nursing or to practice as another health care
10 healthcare provider denied, revoked, suspended, or otherwise restricted.
11 (9) Has violated any provision of this Part.
12 B.(1) A nurse applying for reinstatement following a license suspension
13 related to a substance use disorder may submit an independent medical evaluation
14 from a licensed physician, psychiatrist, or advanced practice registered nurse
15 qualified in addiction medicine with the United States Drug Enforcement
16 Administration.
17 (2) The board shall recognize medication-assisted treatment, including but
18 not limited to treatment with buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone, as an
19 evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder.
20 (3) The board shall not deny reinstatement solely on the basis that a nurse
21 is receiving medication-assisted treatment prescribed by a licensed healthcare
22 professional. The board shall not require an evaluation from a board-contracted
23 physician when a qualified independent evaluation is provided.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 1114 Original 2026 Regular Session Wilford Carter
Abstract: Requires the La. St. Board of Nursing (board) to recognize medication-assisted
treatment as a valid treatment for substance use disorder and prohibits the board from
denying license reinstatement solely because the licensee is receiving such treatment.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1866 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1114
Present law provides that the board may license a person to practice as a nurse, advanced
practice registered nurse, or other healthcare professional governed by the board.
Present law provides that the board may suspend or revoke the license of a healthcare
professional governed by the board for actions that display a disregard for ethical violations
or actions by a licensee that represent a danger to public safety and health including but not
limited to a substance use disorder.
Proposed law authorizes a nurse seeking reinstatement after a substance use disorder-related
suspension to submit a qualified independent medical evaluation.
Proposed law requires the board to recognize medication-assisted treatment as an
evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder.
Proposed law prohibits denial of reinstatement solely due to participation in
medication-assisted treatment and bars requiring a board-contracted evaluation if a qualified
independent evaluation is provided.
(Amends R.S. 37:921)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.