Court clears Kansas nurse’s record after PLF-backed reform
June 12, 2026
Topeka, Kansas; June 12, 2026: On Wednesday, a Kansas court vacated the state nursing board’s excessive disciplinary action against a geriatrics nurse practitioner after a new state law nullified the board’s authority to punish nurses for administrative errors arising from the license renewal process. Amy Siple had fought the Kansas State Board of Nursing’s “unprofessional conduct” finding since the Board penalized her for giving speeches about dementia while her license briefly lapsed as she cared for her husband undergoing cancer treatment.
“Licensing boards have enormous power over people’s careers and livelihood,” said Chris Barnewolt, an attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation. “When they abuse that power — punishing nurses for speech instead of actual patient safety failures — someone has to push back. Americans don’t forfeit their constitutional right to free speech when they earn credentials.”
After Siple’s husband was diagnosed with cancer, she became his caretaker — the first time in more than 30 years she was not seeing patients. When his condition stabilized and she prepared to return to work, Siple discovered her license had lapsed. She immediately submitted the appropriate documents to renew it. The Board responded with an investigation, a $300 fine, and an “unprofessional conduct” notation on her record — based solely on the fact that Siple’s personal website referred to her as a nurse practitioner and that she had given talks about dementia while unlicensed. Nurses found guilty of “unprofessional conduct” are reported to multiple national databases and typically lose the ability to find employment as a nurse.
The Kansas legislature heard about Amy’s case, as well as similar cases involving other nurses over the years. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed House Bill 2528 into law in April 2026, redefining “unprofessional conduct” to cover only conduct that poses real threats to patient safety — not clerical errors. The law also requires that records of nurses harmed by the Board’s previous overreach be cleared.
Siple worked closely with Pacific Legal Foundation to help advance the legislation. Pacific Legal Foundation represented Siple free of charge. The case is Amy Siple v. Kansas Board of Nursing.
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About Pacific Legal Foundation
Pacific Legal Foundation is a national nonprofit law firm that defends Americans threatened by government overreach and abuse. Since our founding in 1973, we challenge the government when it violates individual liberty and constitutional rights. With active cases in 34 states plus Washington, D.C., PLF represents clients in state and federal courts, with 18 wins of 21 cases litigated at the U.S. Supreme Court.