Committee clears bill creating NP full‑practice credentialing committee

Representative Lee Johnson introduced House Bill 12‑58 to the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, saying the measure would create a new full‑practice authority credentialing committee within the Department of Health to vet applications from nurse practitioners seeking autonomy from physician collaborative agreements. "The intent of the bill is to create a legitimate pathway in the state of Arkansas, for full autonomy for nurse practitioners to practice without a collaborative practice agreement with physicians," Johnson said during his presentation.

The proposed committee would include four physician members (one each nominated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the medical schools in Fort Smith and Jonesboro, plus one at large) and four nurse practitioner appointees, three of whom Johnson said would come from teaching facilities. He told lawmakers the committee’s duties would be to assess applications for legitimacy and to adjudicate complaints or forward issues to the medical or nursing boards for further action.

Johnson said applicants would need 6,240 practice hours — about three years of full‑time work — to be eligible to apply, but emphasized that meeting the hours would not guarantee full practice authority. "That doesn't mean you're automatically given full practice authority, but that's the first step to applying," he said, adding the committee must provide feedback to applicants who are denied.

Julie Wiley, identified as president of the Arkansas Nurse Practitioner Association, testified in support of the bill, saying full practice authority would improve access to care in rural and underserved areas and reduce costs tied to collaborative agreements. Wiley said the measure would not expand the clinical scope of certified nurse practitioners, which she said is determined by education, national certification and state licensure.

Senators asked several procedural and accountability questions. Senator Sullivan asked whether the measure would change the existing medical board; Johnson replied the new committee would be independent and include ex‑officio representation from the medical and nursing boards to provide input. Johnson also said timing and other operational details would be developed through rulemaking and that the committee would report periodically to the public health committee to ensure transparency.

After brief committee discussion the chair called for a motion; a do‑pass motion was made and the committee advanced the bill by voice vote. The transcript does not provide a numeric roll‑call tally for that vote.

The next step for HB12‑58 is the full Senate calendar, where sponsors may request scheduling for further floor consideration.