This bill amends RCW 18.79.030 to update and restate who may lawfully practice or hold themselves out as a registered nurse, an advanced-level nurse practitioner, or a licensed practical nurse in Washington. It modifies existing law (an amendment to RCW 18.79.030) rather than creating a wholly new chapter. Both amended versions make it unlawful to practice or offer to practice as a registered nurse, advanced-level nurse practitioner, or licensed practical nurse unless the person is licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW (or holds a valid multistate license under chapter 18.80 RCW where specified). The amendments also specify the exact titles and abbreviations licensed persons may use (registered nurse/R.N./nurse; licensed practical nurse/L.P.N./nurse) and bar any other person or nonhuman entity from using those titles or similar words, letters, signs, or figures. The bill changes the nomenclature for the advanced-level role in two time-staggered ways: the version in effect until June 30, 2027 uses the term "advanced registered nurse practitioner" with abbreviations A.R.N.P. and N.P., and a version that takes effect June 30, 2027 uses the term "advanced practice registered nurse" with abbreviations A.P.R.N. and N.P. Both versions include a limited exception allowing a person listed as a Christian Science nurse in the Christian Science Journal to use the title "Christian Science nurse" provided they do not hold themselves out as a registered nurse, advanced-level nurse practitioner, or licensed practical nurse unless otherwise authorized by law. Procedural history provided: prefiled December 16, 2025; read first time January 12, 2026; passed the House February 11, 2026 (87-8) and the Senate February 26, 2026 (46-2). Section using "A.R.N.P." expires June 30, 2027, and the "A.P.R.N." wording takes effect June 30, 2027. The excerpt does not show any changes to other licensing procedures, qualification standards, enforcement mechanisms, or penalties, and it does not explain the legislative rationale for including two versions with different effective/expiration dates. The filing/approval date by the Secretary of State and any operative changes outside RCW 18.79.030 are not included in the provided text.

If enacted, the law will restrict the use of nursing titles and abbreviations so that only people licensed under Washington’s nursing laws (and where specified, holders of a valid multistate license) may call themselves a registered nurse, nurse practitioner/advanced-level nurse practitioner, or licensed practical nurse. The main concrete change is a scheduled renaming: the title and abbreviation for advanced-level nurse practitioners will shift from "advanced registered nurse practitioner" (A.R.N.P.) to "advanced practice registered nurse" (A.P.R.N.) on June 30, 2027, with the preexisting wording remaining in force only until that date. A narrow exception allows people listed as Christian Science nurses in the Christian Science Journal to use that title so long as they do not present themselves as licensed nurses. Those most affected are individual nurses (RNs, LPNs, and advanced practitioners), their employers, and any person or organization that displays or uses nursing titles; they will need to adopt the specified titles/abbreviations and avoid using protected terms if not licensed, or risk running afoul of the law. The bill does not provide details on enforcement, licensing procedures, or administrative steps, so how rules will be applied and what administrative or compliance costs might follow is unclear.