Nurse Licensure Compact Passes House Unanimously!

In an effort to increase healthcare access for all Connecticut residents, State Representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria (R-105) today joined her colleagues to unanimously support a House Republican caucus proposal to allow Connecticut to enter the Nurse Licensure Compact to allow qualified nurses to obtain a multistate license.

House Bill 5058 – An Act Adopting the Nurse Licensure Compact is a multi-jurisdiction licensing option that will align Connecticut with that of 41 separate jurisdictions, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, to allow registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and vocational nurses (VNs) to practice in any jurisdiction that acknowledges the compact.

“Enabling this compact will provide Connecticut residents with more access to healthcare, including through telehealth visits, and will help free up space in overcrowded, overtaxed hospital Emergency Departments,” Rep Klarides-Ditria, Ranking Member of the Public Health Committee said. “This legislation will also help alleviate the nursing shortage in our state, and it builds on the amazing work our nurses did during the pandemic and provides them with more professional support.”

The compact is administered by the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators and establishes eligibility criteria, disciplinary actions, annual assessments on party states to cover operational costs, and more.

During floor debate, the House adopted an amendment to the bill which added a fingerprint requirement for applicants of a multistate license, and provides funding support for Haven – a nonprofit program that serves as an alternate to discipline and provides supports, including mental health or substance abuse, for medical professionals. The amendment also directs funds from license renewals to further support Haven’s mission.

“With a statewide shortage of qualified nurses and nursing faculty, this legislation streamlines licensing and creates a process where nurses in any of the jurisdictions can pay one fee and have easier access to employment, including right here in Connecticut. This will have lasting positive effects and will help eliminate the nursing shortages that threaten our already strained healthcare system,” Rep. Klarides-Ditria said.

If approved by the Senate and signed into law, Connecticut will enter into the Nurse Licensure Compact from October 1, 2025, until January 1, 2028.