Missouri 2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 979 — Modifies provisions relating to advanced practice registered nurses

Last action — SCS Voted Do Pass w/SCS SBs 979 & 1016 Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee (5116S.02C)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced December 01, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 14% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

SCS/SBs 979 & 1016 - This act modifies provisions relating to the practice of advanced practice registered nursing. Specifically, prescription medications prescribed by advanced practice registered nurses ("APRNs") may include Schedule II stimulants for behavioral health patients. Under current law, collaborative practice arrangements between physicians and registered professional nurses may delegate to an APRN the authority to administer, dispense, or prescribe certain controlled substances. This act provides that the section of law providing for such agreements shall not apply to APRNs, excluding certified registered nurse anesthetists ("CRNAs"), who have been in a collaborative practice arrangement for a cumulative 2000 documented hours with a collaborating physician and whose license is in good standing. APRNs applying for licensure by endorsement may demonstrate to the Missouri State Board of Nursing completion of such hours. Additionally, any such APRN shall not be required to enter into or remain in such arrangement to practice in this state. This act also provides that an APRN's prescriptive authority shall include authority to prescribe, dispense, and administer controlled substances as provided in current law. Furthermore, the provision on prescriptive authority shall also apply to good-standing APRNs who have been in collaborative practice arrangements for a cumulative 2000 documented hours with collaborating physicians and who are no longer required to hold collaborative practice arrangements. This act is identical to provisions in SB 1719 (2026), HB 3040 (2026), SCS/SBs 144 & 179 (2025), contains provisions identical to provisions in SB 809 (2024), is substantially similar to HB 1875 (2024), and contains provisions similar to HB 2067 (2026). KATIE O'BRIEN

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

475 added · 477 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revisions to Bill SB 979 involve the repeal of certain existing sections of law and the introduction of new regulations specifically for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Notably, the updated bill clarifies who can prescribe, administer, and dispense controlled substances, explicitly including APRNs while excluding certified registered nurse anesthetists from this provision. This change is significant because it aims to expand the role of APRNs in healthcare, allowing them more responsibility in patient care, which can improve access to medical services.

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SECOND REGULAR SESSION SENATE BILLNO.
5116S.02C SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILLS NOS.
979 103RD GENERALASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY SENATOR SCHROER.
979 & 1016 AN ACT To repeal sections 195.070, 334.104, and 335.019, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof three new sections relating to advanced practice registered nurses.
5116S.01I KRISTINAMARTIN, Secretary ANACT To repeal sections 195.070, 334.104, and 335.019, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof three new sections relating to advanced practice registered nurses.
An advanced practice registered nurse, as defined in section 335.016, but not a certified registered nurse anesthetist as defined in subdivision (8) of section 335.016, who holds a certificate of controlled substance prescriptive authority from the board of nursing under section 335.019 and who is delegated the authority to EXPLANATION-Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in this bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted in the law.
An advanced practice registered nurse, as defined in section 335.016, but not a certified registered nurse anesthetist as defined in subdivision (8) of section 335.016, who holds a certificate of controlled substance prescriptive authority from the board of nursing under section 335.019 and who is delegated the authority to prescribe controlled substances under a collaborative practice arrangement under section 334.104 may prescribe any controlled substances listed in Schedules III, IV, and V of section 195.017, and may have restricted authority in Schedule II.
SB 979 2 prescribe controlled substances under a collaborative practice arrangement under section 334.104 may prescribe any controlled substances listed in Schedules III, IV, and V of section 195.017, and may have restricted authority in Schedule II.
Practitioners shall maintain records and secure the SB 979 3 medication as required by this chapter and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter;
Practitioners shall maintain records and secure the medication as required by this chapter and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter;
except that, the collaborative practice arrangement shall not delegate the authority to administer any controlled SB 979 4 substances listed in Schedules III, IV, and V of section 195.017, or Schedule II - hydrocodone for the purpose of inducing sedation or general anesthesia for therapeutic, diagnostic, or surgical procedures.
except that, the collaborative practice arrangement shall not delegate the authority to administer any controlled substances listed in Schedules III, IV, and V of section 195.017, or Schedule II - hydrocodone for the purpose of inducing sedation or general anesthesia for therapeutic, diagnostic, or surgical procedures.
provided, that the advanced practice registered nurse is employed by a hospice provider certified pursuant to chapter 197 and the advanced practice registered nurse is providing care to hospice patients pursuant to a collaborative practice arrangement that designates the certified hospice as a location where the advanced practice registered nurse is authorized to practice and prescribe.
provided, that the advanced practice registered nurse is employed by a hospice provider certified pursuant to chapter and the advanced practice registered nurse is providing care to hospice patients pursuant to a collaborative practice arrangement that designates the certified hospice as a location where the advanced practice registered nurse is authorized to practice and prescribe.
SB 979 5 (1) Complete names, home and business addresses, zip codes, and telephone numbers of the collaborating physician and the advanced practice registered nurse;
(1) Complete names, home and business addresses, zip codes, and telephone numbers of the collaborating physician and the advanced practice registered nurse;
Until August 28, 2025, an advanced practice registered nurse providing services in a correctional center, as defined in section 217.010, and his or her collaborating physician shall satisfy the geographic proximity requirement if they practice within two hundred SB 979 6 miles by road of one another.
Until August 28, 2025, an advanced practice registered nurse providing services in a correctional center, as defined in section 217.010, and his or her collaborating physician shall satisfy the geographic proximity requirement if they practice within two hundred miles by road of one another.
The boards shall have forty-five calendar days to review the completed SB 979 7 application for the waiver of geographic proximity.
The boards shall have forty-five calendar days to review the completed application for the waiver of geographic proximity.
The description shall include provisions that the advanced practice registered nurse shall submit a minimum of ten percent of the charts documenting the advanced practice registered nurse's delivery of health care services to the SB 979 8 collaborating physician for review by the collaborating physician, or any other physician designated in the collaborative practice arrangement, every fourteen days;
The description shall include provisions that the advanced practice registered nurse shall submit a minimum of ten percent of the charts documenting the advanced practice registered nurse's delivery of health care services to the collaborating physician for review by the collaborating physician, or any other physician designated in the collaborative practice arrangement, every fourteen days;
Any rules SB 979 9 relating to geographic proximity shall allow a collaborating physician and a collaborating advanced practice registered nurse to practice within two hundred miles by road of one another until August 28, 2025, if the nurse is providing services in a correctional center, as defined in section 217.010.
Any rules relating to geographic proximity shall allow a collaborating physician and a collaborating advanced practice registered nurse to practice within two hundred miles by road of one another until August 28, 2025, if the nurse is providing services in a correctional center, as defined in section 217.010.
Upon the written request of a physician subject to a disciplinary action SB 979 10 imposed as a result of an agreement between a physician and a registered professional nurse or registered physician assistant, whether written or not, prior to August 28, 1993, all records of such disciplinary licensure action and all records pertaining to the filing, investigation or review of an alleged violation of this chapter incurred as a result of such an agreement shall be removed from the records of the state board of registration for the healing arts and the division of professional registration and shall not be disclosed to any public or private entity seeking such information from the board or the division.
Upon the written request of a physician subject to a disciplinary action imposed as a result of an agreement between a physician and a registered professional nurse or registered physician assistant, whether written or not, prior to August 28, 1993, all records of such disciplinary licensure action and all records pertaining to the filing, investigation or review of an alleged violation of this chapter incurred as a result of such an agreement shall be removed from the records of the state board of registration for the healing arts and the division of professional registration and shall not be disclosed to any public or private entity seeking such information from the board or the division.
The board shall track the reported information and may routinely conduct random reviews of such SB 979 11 arrangements to ensure that arrangements are carried out for compliance under this chapter.
The board shall track the reported information and may routinely conduct random reviews of such arrangements to ensure that arrangements are carried out for compliance under this chapter.
SB 979 12 9.
9.
No contract or other agreement shall limit the collaborating physician's ultimate authority over any protocols or SB 979 13 standing orders or in the delegation of the physician's authority to any advanced practice registered nurse, but this requirement shall not authorize a physician in implementing such protocols, standing orders, or delegation to violate applicable standards for safe medical practice established by hospital's medical staff.
No contract or other agreement shall limit the collaborating physician's ultimate authority over any protocols or standing orders or in the delegation of the physician's authority to any advanced practice registered nurse, but this requirement shall not authorize a physician in implementing such protocols, standing orders, or delegation to violate applicable standards for safe medical practice established by hospital's medical staff.
Such advanced practice registered nurses shall not be required to enter into a SB 979 14 collaborative practice arrangement in order to practice in this state.
Such advanced practice registered nurses shall not be required to enter into a collaborative practice arrangement in order to practice in this state.
and SB 979 15 (3) Provides evidence of a minimum of one thousand hours of practice in an advanced practice nursing category prior to application for a certificate of prescriptive authority.
and (3) Provides evidence of a minimum of one thousand hours of practice in an advanced practice nursing category prior to application for a certificate of prescriptive authority.
and [(4)] (a) Has a controlled substance prescribing authority delegated in the collaborative practice arrangement under section 334.104 with a physician who has an unrestricted federal Drug Enforcement Administration registration number and who is actively engaged in a practice comparable in scope, specialty, or expertise to that of the advanced practice registered nurse;
and (4) (a) Has a controlled substance prescribing authority delegated in the collaborative practice arrangement under section 334.104 with a physician who has an unrestricted federal Drug Enforcement Administration registration number and who is actively engaged in a practice comparable in scope, specialty, or expertise to that of the advanced practice registered nurse;
15
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Action History

  1. SCS Voted Do Pass w/SCS SBs 979 & 1016 Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee (5116S.02C)

  2. Hearing Conducted S Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee

  3. Hearing Cancelled S Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee

  4. Second Read and Referred S Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee

  5. S First Read

  6. Prefiled

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 198 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (198)

198 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 198 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

healthcare labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 979 do?
SCS/SBs 979 & 1016 - This act modifies provisions relating to the practice of advanced practice registered nursing. Specifically, prescription medications prescribed by advanced practice registered nurses ("APRNs") may include Schedule II stimulants for behavioral health patients. Under current law, collaborative practice arrangements between physicians and registered professional nurses may delegate to an APRN the authority to administer, dispense, or prescribe certain controlled substances. This act provides that the section of law providing for such agreements shall not apply to APRNs, excluding certified registered nurse anesthetists ("CRNAs"), who have been in a collaborative practice arrangement for a cumulative 2000 documented hours with a collaborating physician and whose license is in good standing. APRNs applying for licensure by endorsement may demonstrate to the Missouri State Board of Nursing completion of such hours. Additionally, any such APRN shall not be required to enter into or remain in such arrangement to practice in this state. This act also provides that an APRN's prescriptive authority shall include authority to prescribe, dispense, and administer controlled substances as provided in current law. Furthermore, the provision on prescriptive authority shall also apply to good-standing APRNs who have been in collaborative practice arrangements for a cumulative 2000 documented hours with collaborating physicians and who are no longer required to hold collaborative practice arrangements. This act is identical to provisions in SB 1719 (2026), HB 3040 (2026), SCS/SBs 144 & 179 (2025), contains provisions identical to provisions in SB 809 (2024), is substantially similar to HB 1875 (2024), and contains provisions similar to HB 2067 (2026). KATIE O'BRIEN
Who sponsors SB 979?
SB 979 is sponsored by Nick Schroer.
What is the current status of SB 979?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced December 01, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 979?
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