Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB646: Nurses; authorize US Coast Guard Health Services Technicians to take exam to be licensed as an LPN.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-15-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, PROVIDE THAT PERSONS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE TRAINING REQUIRED FOR A UNITED STATES COAST GUARD HEALTH SERVICES TECHNICIAN AND THEN COMPLETED TWO YEARS OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE THAT INVOLVES PROVIDING DIRECT PATIENT CARE, SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO TAKE THE EXAMINATION TO BE LICENSED AS A LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to amend section 73-15-21, mississippi code of 1972, provide that persons who have completed the training required for a united states coast guard health services technician and then completed two years of clinical experience that involves providing direct patient care, shall be authorized to take the examination to be licensed as a licensed practical nurse; and for related purposes.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-15-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, PROVIDE THAT PERSONS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE TRAINING REQUIRED FOR A UNITED STATES COAST GUARD HEALTH SERVICES TECHNICIAN AND THEN COMPLETED TWO YEARS OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE THAT INVOLVES PROVIDING DIRECT PATIENT CARE, SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO TAKE THE EXAMINATION TO BE LICENSED AS A LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 73-15-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 73-15-21. (1) Licensed practical nurse applicant qualifications. Any applicant for a license to practice practical nursing as a licensed practical nurse shall submit to the board: (a) An attested written application on a Board of Nursing form; (b) A diploma from an approved high school or the equivalent thereof, as determined by the appropriate educational agency; (c) Written official evidence of completion of a practical nursing program approved by the State Department of *HR43/R1446* H. B. No. 646 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 26/HR43/R1446 PAGE 1 (RF\KP) Education through its Division of Vocational Education, or one approved by a legal accrediting agency of another state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a foreign country which is satisfactory to this board; (d) Evidence of competence in English related to nursing, provided the …
Sponsors
- Carpenter, Lester (R, 1) · primary sponsor
- Harris, W.I. (R, 28)
- Morgan, Ken (R, 100)
Latest actions
- : Died In Committee
- : Referred To Public Health and Human Services
Subjects: Nurses
Common questions
- What is HB646?
- HB646 is a bill in the Mississippi Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Nurses; authorize US Coast Guard Health Services Technicians to take exam to be licensed as an LPN.
- What does HB646 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend section 73-15-21, mississippi code of 1972, provide that persons who have completed the training required for a united states coast guard health services technician and then completed two years of clinical experience that involves providing direct patient care, shall be authorized to take the examination to be licensed as a licensed practical nurse; and for related purposes.
- What is the status of HB646?
- Failed as of February 3, 2026. Latest action: Died In Committee (February 3, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB646?
- Carpenter, Lester (R, 1), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB646?
- On the Mississippi Legislature website: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0646.xml
Source: official Mississippi record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.