# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001125376
**File Stem:** 0001125376-25-000119
**Filing Date:** 2025-6
**Character Count:** 103530
**Document Hash:** c81847c2a8cb5b959765d0b6929bba64
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001125376-25-000119.hdr.sgml**: 20250626

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001125376-25-000119

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: S-8

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 15

**REFERENCES 429**: 333-148379

**REFERENCES 429**: 333-157757

**REFERENCES 429**: 333-172380

**REFERENCES 429**: 333-190552

**REFERENCES 429**: 333-197917

**REFERENCES 429**: 333-209508

**REFERENCES 429**: 333-219666

**REFERENCES 429**: 333-268018

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20250626

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20250626

**EFFECTIVENESS DATE**: 20250626

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** ENSIGN GROUP, INC
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001125376
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** SERVICES-SKILLED NURSING CARE FACILITIES [8051]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 08 Industrial Applications and Services
- **EIN:** 330861263
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** S-8
- **SEC ACT:** 1933 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 333-288359
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251081362

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 29222 RANCHO VIEJO RD.
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 127
- **CITY:** SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 92675
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** (949) 487-9500

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 29222 RANCHO VIEJO RD.
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 127
- **CITY:** SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 92675

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** ENSIGN GROUP INC
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20000930

Registration No. 333-

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 26, 2025

    

**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

_____________________

**FORM S-8**

**REGISTRATION STATEMENT**

**UNDER**

**THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933**

_____________________

**The Ensign Group, Inc.**

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Delaware** | **33-0861263** |
| (State or other jurisdiction | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| of incorporation or organization) | |
| **29222 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 127** | **29222 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 127** |
| **San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675** | **San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675** |
| (Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code) | (Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code) |

---

_____________________

**The Ensign Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan**

(Full title of the plan)

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Chad A. Keetch, Esq.** | ***With a copy to:*** |
| **Chief Investment Officer,**<br>**Executive Vice President and Secretary**<br>**The Ensign Group, Inc.**<br>**29222 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 127**<br>**San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675**<br>(Name and Address of agent for service) | **Amy Bowler** <br>**Holland & Hart LLP**<br>**555 17th Street, Suite 3200**<br>**Denver, Colorado 80202**<br>**(303) 295-8000** |
| **Chief Investment Officer,**<br>**Executive Vice President and Secretary**<br>**The Ensign Group, Inc.**<br>**29222 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 127**<br>**San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675**<br>(Name and Address of agent for service) | **Amy Bowler** <br>**Holland & Hart LLP**<br>**555 17th Street, Suite 3200**<br>**Denver, Colorado 80202**<br>**(303) 295-8000** |
| **Chief Investment Officer,**<br>**Executive Vice President and Secretary**<br>**The Ensign Group, Inc.**<br>**29222 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 127**<br>**San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675**<br>(Name and Address of agent for service) | **Amy Bowler** <br>**Holland & Hart LLP**<br>**555 17th Street, Suite 3200**<br>**Denver, Colorado 80202**<br>**(303) 295-8000** |
| **Chief Investment Officer,**<br>**Executive Vice President and Secretary**<br>**The Ensign Group, Inc.**<br>**29222 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 127**<br>**San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675**<br>(Name and Address of agent for service) | **Amy Bowler** <br>**Holland & Hart LLP**<br>**555 17th Street, Suite 3200**<br>**Denver, Colorado 80202**<br>**(303) 295-8000** |
| **Chief Investment Officer,**<br>**Executive Vice President and Secretary**<br>**The Ensign Group, Inc.**<br>**29222 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 127**<br>**San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675**<br>(Name and Address of agent for service) | **Amy Bowler** <br>**Holland & Hart LLP**<br>**555 17th Street, Suite 3200**<br>**Denver, Colorado 80202**<br>**(303) 295-8000** |
| **(949) 487-9500**<br>(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) |  |

---

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ⌧Accelerated filer □

Non-accelerated filer □(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company □

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Emerging growth company □

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. □

------

**INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT**

The Ensign Group, Inc. (the "**Registrant**" or the "**Company**") is filing this Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the purpose of registering 4,230,804 shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "**Common Stock**"), issuable pursuant to the terms of the Company's Amended and Restated 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "**Amended and Restated Plan**"). Such shares of Common Stock are being registered in addition to 3,462,897 shares registered on Form S-8 File No. 333-268018 filed with the Commission (defined below) on October 26, 2022 (the "Prior Registration Statement").

This Registration Statement relates to securities of the same class as to which the Prior Registration Statement relates and is submitted in accordance with General Instruction E to Form S-8 regarding Registration of Additional Securities. Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of the Prior Registration Statement, to the extent relating to the registration of Common Stock issuable under the Amended and Restated Plan, is incorporated herein by reference and made part of this Registration Statement, except to the extent amended hereby.

**PART I**

**INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS**

**Item 1. Plan Information.\***

**Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.\***

\* The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or given to participants in the Amended and Restated Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "**Securities Act**"). In accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "**Commission**") and the instructions to Part I of Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

**PART II**

**INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT**

**Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.**

We "incorporate by reference" in this prospectus certain documents that we have previously filed with the Commission. This means that we are disclosing important information to you without actually including that information in this prospectus by referring you to other documents that we have filed separately with the Commission. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we later provide to the Commission, and which is deemed "filed" with the Commission, will automatically update information that we previously filed with the Commission, and replace information in this prospectus and information that we previously filed with the Commission.

The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents, which have been filed with the Commission:

(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the Registrant's Annual Report on Form [10-K](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537625000021/ensg-20241231.htm) for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Commission on February 5, 2025 (including the portions of the Registrant's [Definitive Proxy Statement for the Registrant's 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537625000055/ensg-20250402.htm) incorporated by reference therein);

(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended [March 31, 2025](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537625000075/ensg-20250331.htm), filed with the Commission on April 29, 2025;

(c) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on [February](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537625000023/ensg-20250205.htm)[5, 2025](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537625000023/ensg-20250205.htm), [April 29, 2025](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537625000076/ensg-20250429.htm), and [May 20, 2025](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537625000085/ensg-20250515.htm); and

------

(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The description of the Registrant's common stock contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on [Form 8-A](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000104746907007771/a2180212z8-a12b.htm) filed with the Commission on October 19, 2007, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description (including Exhibit [4.1](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537620000018/ensg123119ex41.htm) to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form [10-K](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537625000021/ensg-20241231.htm) for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Commission on February 5, 2025).

All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "**Exchange Act**") after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. The Registrant expressly excludes from such incorporation information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K. Any document or any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a subsequently filed document or a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated herein by reference modifies or supersedes such document or such statement. Any such document or statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement we may authorize to be delivered to you. You should not assume that the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus, or any applicable prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of each document.

**Item 4. Description of Securities.**

Not Applicable.

**Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.**

Not Applicable.

**Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.**

Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, we may indemnify our directors and officers against liabilities they may incur in such capacities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Our bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law and require us to advance litigation expenses upon our receipt of an undertaking by the director or officer to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that the director or officer is not entitled to indemnification. Our bylaws further provide that rights conferred under such bylaws do not exclude any other right such persons may have or acquire under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, insurance policy or otherwise.

Our certificate of incorporation provides that we shall indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law. Our certificate of incorporation also provides that, pursuant to Delaware law, our directors shall not be liable for monetary damages for breach of the directors' fiduciary duty of care to us and our stockholders. This provision in our certificate of incorporation does not eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate circumstances, equitable remedies such as injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under Delaware law. In addition, each director is subject to liability for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to us for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct, for knowing violations of law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to the director, and for payment of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or redemptions that are unlawful under Delaware law. The provision also does not affect a director's responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws or state or federal environmental laws. Our certificate of incorporation further provides that we are authorized to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law through the bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

We have entered into agreements to indemnify our directors, officers and other key employees in addition to the indemnification provided for in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. These agreements, among other things, indemnify these persons for certain expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by such person in any action or proceeding, including any action by or in our right, on account of services by that person as a director or officer or as a director or officer of any of our subsidiaries, or as a director or officer of any other company or enterprise that the person provides services to at our request.

------

We maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance for our officers and directors.

**Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.**

Not Applicable.

**Item 8. Exhibits.**

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit No.** | **Description** | **Where Located** |
| [4.1](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000110465907090660/a07-31302_1ex3d1.htm) | Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The Ensign Group, Inc. filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on November 15, 2007, and [all Certificates of Amendment thereto filed with the Delaware Secretary of State through May 23, 2024](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537624000135/ensgq22024ex31.htm) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 25, 2024 |
| [4.3](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000110465907090660/a07-31302_1ex3d2.htm) | [Amended and Restated Bylaws of The Ensign Group, Inc.](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000110465907090660/a07-31302_1ex3d2.htm) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on December 21, 2007 |
| [4.4](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537614000082/exhit32.htm) | [Amendment to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of The Ensign Group, Inc.](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1125376/000112537614000082/exhit32.htm) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 8, 2014 |
| [4.5](exhibit45-2025plan.htm) | [The Ensign Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan](exhibit45-2025plan.htm) | Filed herewith |
| [5.1](exhibit51hh2025.htm) | [Opinion of Holland & Hart LLP](exhibit51hh2025.htm) | Filed herewith |
| [23.1](exhibit231s-82025.htm) | [Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP](exhibit231s-82025.htm) | Filed herewith |
| [23.2](exhibit51hh2025.htm) | [Consent of Holland & Hart LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement)](exhibit51hh2025.htm) | Filed herewith |
| [24.1](#i8bcd402dd3534f44a7c4122d355c42c9_34) | [Power of Attorney (included in the signature page to this Registration Statement)](#i8bcd402dd3534f44a7c4122d355c42c9_34) | Filed herewith |
| [107](exfilingfees.htm) | [Filing Fee Table](exfilingfees.htm) | Filed herewith |

---

**Item 9. Undertakings.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective Registration Statement; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

------

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the Registration Statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial *bona fide* offering thereof; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial *bona fide* offering thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

**SIGNATURES**

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Juan Capistrano, State of California on June 26, 2025.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC.** | **THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC.** |
| By: | /s/ Suzanne D. Snapper |
|  | Suzanne D. Snapper |
|  | Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Director (Principal Financial Officer and Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer) |

---

**POWER OF ATTORNEY**

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each of the undersigned officers and directors does hereby constitute and appoint Chad A. Keetch, or his substitute or substitutes, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute and file or cause to be filed any and all instruments, documents or exhibits which said attorney and agent, determine may be necessary or advisable or required to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Act and any rules or regulations or requirements of the Commission in connection with this Registration Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing power and authority, the powers granted include the power and authority to sign the names of the undersigned officers and directors in the capacities indicated below to this Registration Statement, to any and all amendments, both pre-effective and post-effective, and supplements to this Registration Statement and to any and all instruments, documents or exhibits filed as part of or in conjunction with this Registration Statement or amendments or supplements thereof, with the powers of substitution and revocation, and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorney and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. In witness whereof, each of the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the dates indicated below.

------

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated below.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Signature** | **Title** | **Date** |
| /s/ Barry R. Port | Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | June 26, 2025 |
| Barry R. Port |  |  |
| /s/ Suzanne D. Snapper | Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Director (Principal Financial Officer and Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer) | June 26, 2025 |
| Suzanne D. Snapper |  |  |
| /s/ Christopher R. Christensen | Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board | June 26, 2025 |
| Christopher R. Christensen |  |  |
| /s/ Ann S. Blouin | Director | June 26, 2025 |
| Ann S. Blouin |  |  |
| /s/ Swati B. Abbott | Director | June 26, 2025 |
| Swati B. Abbott |  |  |
| /s/ Daren J. Shaw | Director | June 26, 2025 |
| Daren J. Shaw |  |  |
| /s/ John O. Agwunobi | Director | June 26, 2025 |
| John O. Agwunobi |  |  |
| /s/ Barry M. Smith | Director | June 26, 2025 |
| Barry M. Smith |  |  |
| /s/ Mark V. Parkinson | Director | June 26, 2025 |
| Mark V. Parkinson |  |  |

---

## Ex-Filing

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? exfilingfees

**Exhibit 107**

**Calculation of Filing Fee Tables**

**Form S-8** 

(Form Type)

**The Ensign Group, Inc.** 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

**Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities**

---

| | | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Security** | **Security Class** | **Fee Calculation** | **Amount** | **Proposed Maximum** | **Maximum Aggregate** | **Fee** | **Amount of** |
| **Type** | **Title** | **Rule** | **Registered**<sup>(2)</sup> | **Offering Price** <br>**Per Share** | **Offering Price**<sup>(3)</sup> | **Rate** | **Registration Fee**<sup>(3)</sup> |
| Equity | Common Stock, $.001 par value | 457(c) and 457(h) | 4230804 | $153.04 | $647482244.16 | $0.0001531 | $99129.53 |
| **Total Offering Amounts** | **Total Offering Amounts** | **Total Offering Amounts** | **Total Offering Amounts** | **Total Offering Amounts** | **Total Offering Amounts** | **Total Offering Amounts** | $99129.53 |
| **Total Fee Offsets** | **Total Fee Offsets** | **Total Fee Offsets** | **Total Fee Offsets** | **Total Fee Offsets** | **Total Fee Offsets** | **Total Fee Offsets** |  |
| **Net Fee Due** | **Net Fee Due** | **Net Fee Due** | **Net Fee Due** | **Net Fee Due** | **Net Fee Due** | **Net Fee Due** | $99129.53 |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant's common stock that become issuable by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected without the Registrant's receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant's common stock.

(2) This Registration Statement covers the following shares authorized for issuance under the Amended and Restated 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan: 4,203,000 new shares of common stock plus 27,804 shares of common stock that were available for issuance under the Registrant's 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan immediately prior to stockholder approval of the Amended and Restated 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan and which are rolled over to the 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

(3) Estimated solely for calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, on the basis of the average of the high and low sales prices per share of the Registrant's common stock on June 23, 2025 as reported by The NASDAQ Stock Market.

(4) The Registrant does not have any fee offsets.

## Exhibit 4.5

**EXHIBIT 4.5**

**THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC.**

**2022 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN**

**AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 21, 2025**

**Section 1. Purpose** 

The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its stockholders by aiding the Company in attracting and retaining officers, consultants, independent contractors and Directors capable of assuring the future success of the Company and to attract and retain officers, employees and independent contractors and directors for its Affiliates, to offer such persons incentives to continue in the Company's or its Affiliates employ or service, as applicable, and to afford such persons an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest, or otherwise increase their proprietary interest, in the Company.

**Section 2. Definitions** 

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.*"Affiliate*" shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in each case as determined by the Committee.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b."*Annual Meeting*" shall mean the Company's regular annual meeting of stockholders which occurs in 2025.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c."*Automatic Stock Grant Program*" shall mean the Directors' Automatic Stock Grant Program described in Section 6(i) of the Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d.*"Award*" shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock Grant, or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;e.*"Award Agreement*" shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award granted under the Plan. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and any other terms and conditions (not inconsistent with the Plan) determined by the Committee.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;f.*"Board*" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;g."*Cause*" shall mean, with respect to a Participant, the occurrence of any of the following: (i) Participant's personal dishonesty, willful misconduct, or breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, (ii) Participant's continuing intentional or habitual failure to perform stated duties, (iii) Participant's violation of any law (other than minor traffic violations or similar misdemeanor offenses not involving moral turpitude), (iv) Participant's material breach of any provision of an employment or independent contractor agreement with the Company, or (v) any other act or omission by a Participant that, in the opinion of the Committee, could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition, prospects and/or reputation. In each of the foregoing subclauses (i) through (v), whether or not a "Cause" event has occurred will be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion or, in the case of Participants who are Directors or officers or persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Board, each of whose determination shall be final, conclusive and binding. A Participant's Service shall be deemed to have terminated for Cause if, after the Participant's Service has terminated, facts and circumstances are discovered that would have justified a termination for Cause, including, without limitation, violation of material Company policies or breach of noncompetition, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;h.*"Change in Control*" shall mean a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through any of the following transactions: (i) a merger, consolidation or other reorganization unless securities representing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the voting securities of the successor corporation are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly and in substantially the same proportion, by the persons who beneficially owned the Company's outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such

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transaction; (ii) a sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets; or (iii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Company's stockholders. To the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A, a Change in Control must also constitute a Section 409A "change in control event".

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;i.*"Code*" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;j.*"Committee*" shall mean a committee of Directors designated by the Board to administer the Plan, which shall initially be the Compensation Committee. The Committee shall be comprised of at least two Directors but not less than such number of Directors as shall be required to permit Awards granted under the Plan to qualify under Rule 16b-3, and each member of the Committee shall be a Rule 16b-3 "*Non-Employee Director*."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;k.*"Company*" shall mean The Ensign Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporation.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;l."*Compensation Committee*" shall mean the compensation committee of the Board.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;m.*"Director*" shall mean a member of the Board, including any Non-Employee Director.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;n.*"Dividend Equivalent*" shall mean any right granted under Section 6(e) of the Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;o.*"Eligible Person*" shall mean any Person who/that is an employee, officer, consultant, independent contractor or Director providing Services to the Company or any Affiliate who the Committee determines to be an Eligible Person.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;p.*"Equity Restructuring*" shall mean a dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company or other similar corporate transaction or event that affects the Shares such that an adjustment is necessary in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;q.*"Exchange Act*" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;r.*"Fair Market Value*" shall mean, with respect to any property (including, without limitation, any Shares or other securities), the fair market value of such property determined by the Committee pursuant to such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing and unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of a Share as of a given date shall be the closing sale price of one Share as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market or such other principal United States securities market for such Shares on the date as of which Fair Market Value is being determined, if the Shares are then listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market or another principal United States securities market for such Shares.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;s."*Fiscal Year*" means the Company's fiscal year.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;t."*Full Value Award*" means any Award of Shares under this Plan or an Award payable in Shares, other than an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right or other purchase right for which the Participant pays fair market value for the Shares measured as of the date of grant.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;u.*"Incentive Stock Option*" shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that is intended to qualify as an "incentive stock option" in accordance with the terms of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;v.*"Non-Employee Director*" shall mean any Director who is not also an employee of the Company or an Affiliate within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 (which term "Non-Employee Director" is defined in this paragraph for purposes of the definition of "Committee" only and is not intended to define such term as used elsewhere in the Plan).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;w.*"Non-Qualified Stock Option*" shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;x.*"Option*" shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;y.*"Other Stock Grant*" shall mean any right granted under Section 6(f) of the Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;z.*"Other Stock-Based Award*" shall mean any right granted under Section 6(g) of the Plan.

aa.*"Participant*" shall mean an Eligible Person designated to be granted an Award under the Plan.

ab.*"Performance Award*" shall mean any right granted under Section 6(d) of the Plan.

ac.*"Performance Goal*" shall mean one or more of the following performance goals, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied on a corporate, subsidiary or business unit basis: revenue, cash flow, gross profit, earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and net earnings, earnings per share, margins (including one or more of gross, operating and net income margins), returns (including one or more of return on assets, equity, investment, capital and revenue and total stockholder return), stock price, economic value added, working capital, market share, cost reductions, workforce satisfaction, employee retention, customer satisfaction, completion of key projects and strategic plan development and implementation. Such goals may reflect absolute entity or business unit performance or a relative comparison to the performance of a peer group of entities or other external measure of the selected performance criteria. The Committee shall establish the Performance Goals for a Qualified Performance Based Award on or before the 90<sup>th</sup> day of the applicable performance period for which Performance Goals are established and in no event after 25% of the applicable performance period has elapsed and in any event when the achievement of the applicable Performance Goals remains substantially uncertain. The Committee may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under such Performance Goals to exclude the effect of certain events, including without limitation any of the following events: asset write-downs; litigation or claim judgments or settlements; changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results; severance, contract termination and other costs related to exiting certain business activities; and gains or losses from the disposition of businesses or assets or from the early extinguishment of debt.

ad.*"Person*" shall mean any individual or entity, including a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or trust.

ae.*"Plan*" shall mean The Ensign Group, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, the provisions of which are set forth herein.

af."*Prior Plan*" shall mean, as the case may be, The Ensign Group, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan as in effect immediately prior to this amendment and restatement of the Plan.

ag.*"Restricted Stock*" shall mean any Share granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan (or any Share issued pursuant to an Option that is early exercised).

ah.*"Restricted Stock Unit*" shall mean any unit granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan evidencing the right to receive a Share (or evidencing the right to receive a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share if explicitly so provided in the Award Agreement) at some future date.

ai.*"Rule 16b-3*" shall mean Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation. (jj) *"Section 409A*" shall mean Section 409A of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

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aj.*"Securities Act*" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

ak."*Separation From Service*" has the meaning provided to such term under Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

al.*"Service*" shall mean the Participant's performance of services for the Company (or any Affiliate) in the capacity of an employee, officer, consultant, independent contractor or Director.

am.*"Share*" or "*Shares*" shall mean a share or shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company or such other securities or property as may become subject to Awards pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 4(c) of the Plan.

an."*Specified Employee*" has the meaning provided to such term under Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

ao.*"Stock Appreciation Right*" shall mean any right granted under Section 6(b) of the Plan.

ap."*Substitute Awards*" means Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a company acquired by the Company or any Affiliate or with which the Company or any Affiliate combines.

**Section 3. Administration** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.*Power and Authority of the Committee.* The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Any Awards made to members of the Committee, however, should also be authorized by a disinterested majority of the Board. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and to applicable law, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by (or the method by which payments or other rights are to be determined in connection with) each Award; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement; (v) amend the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement and accelerate the exercisability of any Option or waive any restrictions relating to any Award or extending the period of exercisability for an Award; (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited or suspended; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement, including an Award Agreement, relating to the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (ix) include in an Award Agreement a requirement that, under certain circumstances, acceleration of vesting (or compensation payable) with respect to such Award shall be reduced (or eliminated) to the extent that such reduction (or elimination) would, after taking into account any other payments in the nature of compensation to which the Participant would have a right to receive from the Company and any other person contingent upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, prevent the occurrence of a "parachute payment" as defined under Code Section 280G; (x) granting Awards to Eligible Persons who are foreign nationals on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan, which may be necessary or desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan, and adopting such modifications, procedures, and/or subplans (with any such subplans attached as appendices to the Plan) and the like as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws or regulations of other countries or jurisdictions to ensure the viability of the benefits from Awards granted to Participants employed in such countries or jurisdictions, or to meet the requirements that permit the Plan to operate in a qualified or tax efficient manner, and/or comply with applicable foreign laws or regulations; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon any Eligible Person and any holder or beneficiary of any Award and shall receive the maximum deference permitted under applicable law. The administration of the Automatic Stock Grant Program, however, shall be self-executing in accordance with the terms of that program so that neither the Board nor any Committee shall exercise any discretionary functions with respect to any Awards made under that program. If at any time (including after a notice of exercise has been

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delivered) the Committee (or the Board), reasonably believes that a Participant has committed an act of Cause (which includes a failure to act), the Committee (or Board) may suspend the Participant's right to exercise any Award (or vesting or settlement of any Award) pending a determination of whether there was in fact an act of Cause. If the Committee (or the Board) determines a Participant has committed an act of Cause, neither the Participant nor his or her estate shall be entitled to exercise any outstanding Award whatsoever and all of Participant's outstanding Awards shall then terminate without consideration.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b.*Power and Authority of the Board.* Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may, at any time and from time to time, without any further action of the Committee, exercise the powers and duties of the Committee under the Plan.

**Section 4. Shares Available for Awards** 

*Shares Available.* Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c) of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan shall be 4,230,804 (the "Share Limit"), which is equal to the sum of (i) 4,203,000 new Shares approved as part of this amended and restated Plan, and (ii) 27,804 previously approved Shares (including the number of Shares available under the Prior Plan immediately prior to stockholder approval of this amend and restated Plan, as determined in accordance with the counting, adjustment and substitution provisions of the Prior Plan). The aggregate number of Shares available with respect to Awards under the Plan (including the Prior Plan Shares described in Section 4(a)(ii)) shall be reduced by (i) one (1) Share for each Share which relates to an Options or a Stock Appreciation Right; and (ii) two (2) Shares for each Share which relates to a Full-Value Award. Shares to be issued under the Plan may be either authorized but unissued Shares or Shares re-acquired and held in treasury.

*Accounting for Awards.* To the extent that (i) Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall expire unexercised, are cancelled, forfeited, terminated or are not distributed, or (ii) Shares subject to Awards under the Plan shall be, cancelled, forfeited, terminated or are settled in cash in lieu of Shares, such Shares shall immediately become available for grant under the Plan, as applicable, and shall increase the number of Shares available for purposes of the Plan. To the extent that Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or Shares awarded under this Plan shall be cancelled, forfeited or terminated (or are settled in cash in lieu of Shares), such Shares shall be added back to the Plan on the same basis and subject to the same ratio that applied when they were granted and shall increase the number of Shares available for purposes of the Plan. Shares delivered in payment of the purchase price in connection with the exercise of any Award, Shares repurchased on the open market with proceeds received by the Company from stock exercises, Shares delivered or withheld to pay tax withholding obligations or otherwise under the Plan and Shares not issued upon the net settlement or net exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights shall not be added to and shall not increase the number of Shares available for purposes of the Plan. Stock Appreciation Rights to be settled in Shares shall be counted in full against the number of Shares available for award under the Plan regardless of the number of Shares issued upon settlement of the Stock Appreciation Rights.

*Adjustments.* In the event of any Equity Restructuring, the number and type of Shares (or other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards, and the purchase price or exercise price with respect to any Award will be proportionately adjusted; *provided, however*, that the number of Shares covered by any Award or to which such Award relates shall always be rounded down to the nearest whole number. The adjustments provided under this Section 4(c) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected Participant and the Company. The Committee shall make such proportionate adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such Equity Restructuring with respect to the Share Limit, the ISO Limit, the aggregate number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Sections 4(a), 4(b) and 6(d) hereof, the Limitations and Director Grant Limits as each are defined below, and the automatic grant figures set forth in Section 6(i)).

*Substitute Awards*. Substitute Awards shall not count toward the Share Limit (or the other limits in Section 4(a)), nor shall Shares subject to a Substitute Award again be available for Awards under the Plan as provided in Section 4(a). Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Affiliate or with which the Company or any Affiliate combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not count toward the Share Limit; provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or

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combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees or Board members prior to such acquisition or combination.

**Section 5. Eligibility** 

Any Eligible Person shall be eligible to be designated a Participant. In determining which Eligible Persons shall receive an Award and the terms of any Award, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective Eligible Persons, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company or such other factors as the Committee, in its discretion, shall deem relevant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may only be granted to full-time or part-time employees (which term as used herein includes, without limitation, officers and Directors who are also employees), and an Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to an employee of an Affiliate unless such Affiliate is also a "subsidiary corporation" of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code or any successor provision.

**Section 6. Awards** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.*Options.* The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Options to Eligible Persons with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;i.*Exercise Price*. The purchase price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee; *provided*, *however*, that such purchase price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option unless the Committee expressly acknowledges in its granting resolutions that such Option has been structured to be exempt from or compliant with the requirements of Section 409A.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ii.*Option Term*. The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee at the time of grant, but shall not be longer than 10 years from the date of grant.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;iii.*Time and Method of Exercise*. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part and the method or methods by which, and the form or forms (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the applicable exercise price) in which payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;iv.*Incentive Stock Options*. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the following additional provisions shall apply to the grant of stock options which are intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.The Committee will not grant Incentive Stock Options in which the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under this Plan and all other plans of the Company and its Affiliates) shall exceed $100,000.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.All Incentive Stock Options must be granted within ten years from the earlier of the date on which this Plan was adopted by the Board or the date this Plan was approved by the stockholders of the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3.Unless sooner exercised, all Incentive Stock Options shall expire and no longer be exercisable no later than 10 years after the date of grant; *provided*, *however*, that in the case of a grant of an Incentive Stock Option to a Participant who, at the time such Option is granted, owns (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Affiliate, such Incentive Stock Option shall expire and no longer be exercisable no later than 5 years from the date of grant.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.The purchase price per Share for an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of the Incentive Stock Option; *provided*, *however*, that, in the case of the grant of an Incentive Stock Option to a Participant who, at the time such Option is granted, owns (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Affiliate, the purchase price per Share purchasable under an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of the Incentive Stock Option.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5.Any Incentive Stock Option authorized under the Plan shall contain such other provisions as the Committee shall deem advisable, but shall in all events be consistent with and contain all provisions required in order to qualify the Option as an Incentive Stock Option.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6.Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan shall not exceed maximum aggregate number of Shares described in Section 4(a) (the "ISO Limit").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b.*Stock Appreciation Rights.* The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Persons subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall confer on the holder upon exercise the right to receive a whole number of Shares equal to the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise (or, if the Committee shall so determine, at any time during a specified period before or after the date of exercise) over (b) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as determined by the Committee, which grant price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right. The term of any Stock Appreciation Right shall not exceed 10 years.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c.*Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.* The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Persons with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;i.*Restrictions*. Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, a restriction on or prohibition against the right to receive any dividend or other right or property with respect thereto), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or otherwise as the Committee may deem appropriate.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ii.*Issuance of Shares*. Any Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Board may deem appropriate, including book-entry registration or issuance of a stock certificate or certificates, which certificate or certificates shall be held by the Company. Such certificate or certificates shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the restrictions and possible forfeiture applicable to such Restricted Stock, as set forth in the Award Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;iii.*Forfeiture*. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon a Participant's termination of Service (as determined under criteria established by the Committee) during the applicable restriction period, all applicable Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units at such time subject to restriction shall be forfeited and with Shares of Restricted Stock reacquired by the Company; *provided*, *however*, that the Committee may, when it finds that a waiver would be in the best interest of the Company, waive in whole or in part any or all remaining restrictions with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d.*Performance Awards.* The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Performance Awards to Eligible Persons subject to the terms of the Plan. A Performance Award granted under the Plan (i) may be denominated or payable in cash, Shares (including, without limitation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units), other securities, other Awards or other property and (ii) shall confer on the holder thereof the right to receive payments, in whole or in part, upon the achievement of such Performance Goals during such performance periods as the Committee shall establish. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Performance Goals to be

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achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award granted, the amount of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award and any other terms and conditions of any Performance Award shall be determined by the Committee.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;e.*Dividend Equivalents.* The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to Eligible Persons under which the Participant shall be entitled to receive payments (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property as determined in the discretion of the Committee) equivalent to the amount of cash dividends paid by the Company to holders of Shares with respect to a number of Shares determined by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan, such Dividend Equivalents may have such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine except that all Dividend Equivalents shall be subject to the same vesting conditions as to the underlying Award to which they are attached.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;f.*Other Stock Grants.* The Committee is hereby authorized, subject to the terms of the Plan, to grant to Eligible Persons Shares without restrictions thereon as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, such Other Stock Grant may have such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;g.*Other Stock-Based Awards.* The Committee is hereby authorized to grant to Eligible Persons, subject to the terms of the Plan, such other Awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares), as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan. Shares or other securities delivered pursuant to a purchase right granted under this Section 6(g) shall be purchased for such consideration, which may be paid by such method or methods and in such form or forms (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property or any combination thereof), as the Committee shall determine, the value of which consideration, as established by the Committee, shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Shares or other securities as of the date such purchase right is granted unless the Committee expressly acknowledges in its granting resolutions that such Other Stock-Based Award has been structured to be exempt from or compliant with the requirements of Section 409A.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;h.*General*.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;i.*Consideration for Awards*. Awards may be granted for no cash consideration or for any cash or other consideration as determined by the Committee and required by applicable law.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ii.*Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together*. Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with or in substitution for any other Award or any award granted under any plan of the Company or any Affiliate. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or in addition to or in tandem with awards granted under any such other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;iii.*Forms of Payment under Awards*. Subject to the terms of the Plan and of any applicable Award Agreement, payments or transfers to be made by the Company or an Affiliate upon the grant, exercise or payment of an Award may be made in such form or forms as the Committee shall determine (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property or any combination thereof), and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments or on a deferred basis, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee. Such rules and procedures may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents with respect to installment or deferred payments.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;iv.*Limits on Transfer of Awards*. No Award (other than Other Stock Grants) and no right under any such Award shall be transferable by a Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and the Company shall not be required to recognize any attempted assignment of such rights by any Participant; *provided*, *however*, that, if so determined by the Committee, a Participant may, in the manner established by the Committee, designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise the rights of the Participant and receive any property distributable with respect to any

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Award upon the death of the Participant; *provided*, *further*, that, if so determined by the Committee, a Participant may, at any time that such Participant holds such Option, transfer a Non-Qualified Stock Option to any "*Family Member*" (as such term is defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8 (or any successor to such Instructions or such Form) under the Securities Act), *provided* that the Participant may not receive any consideration for such transfer, the Family Member may not make any subsequent transfers other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and the Company receives written notice of such transfer. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, each Award (other than an Incentive Stock Option) or right under any such Award shall be exercisable during the Participant's lifetime only by the Participant or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant's guardian or legal representative. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, no Award (other than an Incentive Stock Option) or right under any such Award may be pledged, alienated, attached or otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation, attachment or other encumbrance thereof shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;v.*Term of Awards*. Subject to Section 6(a)(iv)(C), the term of each Award shall be fixed by the Committee at the time of grant, but shall not be longer than 10 years from the date of grant.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;vi.*Restrictions; Securities Exchange Listing*. All Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, applicable federal or state securities laws and regulatory requirements, and the Committee may direct appropriate stop transfer orders and cause other legends to be placed on the certificates for such Shares or other securities to reflect such restrictions. If the Shares or other securities are traded on a securities exchange, the Company shall not be required, and shall have no liability for failure, to deliver any Shares or other securities covered by an Award unless and until such Shares or other securities have been and continue to be admitted for trading on such securities exchange. No Shares or other assets shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan, and the Company shall have no liability for failure to issue or deliver Shares under the Plan, unless and until there shall have been compliance with all applicable requirements of applicable securities laws, including the filing and effectiveness of the Form S-8 registration statement for the Shares issuable pursuant to the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements of any stock exchange or trading system, including the Nasdaq Stock Market, on which Common Stock is then traded. No Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan, and the Company shall have no liability for failure to issue or deliver Shares under the Plan, if doing so would violate any internal policies of the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;vii.*Prohibition on Repricing*. Except as provided in Section 4(c) of the Plan, no Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be amended to reduce its initial exercise or grant price and no Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be canceled and replaced with either cash or Shares or with Options or Stock Appreciation Rights having a lower exercise or grant price, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company. In addition, no re-load Options may be granted without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;i.Directors' Automatic Stock Grant Program.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;i.<u>Automatic Quarterly Restricted Stock Awards</u>. Beginning with the Adoption Date, each Non-Employee Director serving as a duly elected or appointed Class I, Class II, or Class III Director on the first day of each fiscal quarter shall receive a number of shares as approved by the Compensation Committee for each fiscal quarter of service. Shares granted pursuant to the Automatic Stock Grant Program shall vest over a three-year period, beginning with the first anniversary of the grant date and the Non-Employee Director shall not be required to pay any amount to the Company for such Shares. There shall be no limit on the number of Shares any one Non-Employee Director may receive over his or her period of Board service pursuant to the Automatic Stock Grant Program, and Non-Employee Directors who have previously been employees of the Company (or any Affiliate) or who have received one or more Awards from the Company prior to becoming a Non-Employee Director shall nevertheless be eligible to receive Shares pursuant to the Automatic Stock Grant Program over their period of continued Board service. Non-Employee Directors must be serving as a member of the Board on the first day of the fiscal quarter in question to be eligible to receive an Award under this subsection. If a Non-

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Employee Director ceases to serve as a member of the Board for any reason, such Non-Employee Director shall no longer be eligible or entitled to receive any Awards contemplated by this subsection. Non-Employee Directors elected to fill less than a three-year term will receive a pro rata stock award.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ii.<u>Timing of Awards</u>. Awards made pursuant to the Automatic Stock Grant Program shall be granted on the fifteenth (15<sup>th</sup>) day of the first month of the fiscal quarter for which the Non-Employee Director qualifies for such Award, provided that such day is not a Saturday, Sunday or holiday observed by The NASDAQ Stock Market. In the event that the fifteenth (15<sup>th</sup>) day of the first month of the fiscal quarter is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday observed by The NASDAQ Stock Market, the Shares shall be issued on the next regular business and trading day following the fifteenth (15<sup>th</sup>) day of the first month of the fiscal quarter.

**Section 7. Amendment and Termination; Adjustments** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.*Amendments to the Plan.* The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan at any time; *provided, however*, that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made that, absent such approval:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;i.violates the rules or regulations of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or any other securities exchange that are applicable to the Company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ii.causes the Company to be unable, under the Code, to grant Incentive Stock Options under the Plan;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;iii.increases the number of shares authorized under the Plan as specified in Section 4(a); or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;iv.permits the award of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights at a price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as prohibited by Sections 6(a)(i) and 6(b) of the Plan or the repricing of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, as prohibited by Section 6(h)(vii) of the Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b.*Amendments to Awards.* The Committee may waive any conditions of or rights of the Company under any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively. Except as otherwise provided herein or in an Award Agreement, the Committee may not amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively, if such action would adversely affect the rights of the holder of such Award, without the consent of the Participant or holder or beneficiary thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall not waive any conditions or rights of the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c.*Correction of Defects, Omissions and Inconsistencies.* The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to implement or maintain the effectiveness of the Plan.

**Section 8. Income Tax Withholding** 

In order to comply with all applicable federal, state or local income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal, state or local payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are the sole and absolute responsibility of a Participant, are withheld or collected from such Participant. In order to assist a Participant in paying all or a portion of the federal, state and local taxes to be withheld or collected upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) an Award, the Committee, in its discretion and subject to such additional terms and conditions as it may adopt, may permit the Participant to satisfy such tax obligation by (i) electing to have the Company withhold a portion of the Shares otherwise to be delivered upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes (but only up to the maximum amount permitted to be withheld under applicable laws or regulations or financial accounting rules and without causing the Award to be classified as a liability under financial accounting rules) or (ii) delivering to the Company Shares other than Shares issuable upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes (but only up to the maximum amount permitted to be withheld under applicable laws or regulations or financial accounting rules

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and without causing the Award to be classified as a liability under financial accounting rules). The election, if any, must be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.

**Section 9. General Provisions** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.*No Rights to Awards.* No Eligible Person or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Persons or holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to any Participant or with respect to different Participants.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b.*Award Agreements.* No Participant will have rights under an Award granted to such Participant unless and until an Award Agreement shall have been duly executed on behalf of the Company and, if requested by the Company, signed by the Participant.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c.*Plan Provisions Control.* In the event that any provision of an Award Agreement conflicts with or is inconsistent in any respect with the terms of the Plan as set forth herein or subsequently amended, the terms of the Plan shall control.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d.*No Rights of Stockholders.* Except with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock as to which the Participant has been granted the right to vote, neither a Participant nor the Participant's legal representative shall be, or have any of the rights and privileges of, a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares issuable to such Participant upon the exercise or payment of any Award, in whole or in part, unless and until such Shares have been issued in the name of such Participant or such Participant's legal representative without restrictions thereto.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;e.*No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements.* Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation arrangements, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;f.*No Right to Employment.* The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ, or as giving a Director of the Company or an Affiliate the right to continue as a Director or an Affiliate of the Company or any Affiliate, nor will it affect in any way the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate a Participant's employment or Service at any time, with or without cause. In addition, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment, or terminate the term of a Director of the Company or an Affiliate, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan or any Award, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement. Nothing in this Plan shall confer on any person any legal or equitable right against the Company or any Affiliate, directly or indirectly, or give rise to any cause of action at law or in equity against the Company or an Affiliate. The Awards granted hereunder shall not form any part of the wages or salary of any Eligible Person for purposes of severance pay or termination indemnities, irrespective of the reason for termination of employment. Under no circumstances shall any person ceasing to be an employee of the Company or any Affiliate be entitled to any compensation for any loss of any right or benefit under the Plan which such employee might otherwise have enjoyed but for termination of employment, whether such compensation is claimed by way of damages for wrongful or unfair dismissal, breach of contract or otherwise. By participating in the Plan, each Participant shall be deemed to have accepted all the conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of any rules and regulations adopted by the Committee and shall be fully bound thereby.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;g.*Governing Law.* The validity, construction and effect of the Plan or any Award, and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan or any Award, shall be determined in accordance with the internal laws, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of Delaware.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;h.*Severability.* If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the purpose or intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction or Award, and the remainder of the Plan or any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;i.*No Trust or Fund Created.* Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and an Eligible Person or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;j.*Other Benefits.* No compensation or benefit awarded to or realized by any Participant under the Plan shall be included for the purpose of computing such Participant's compensation under any compensation-based retirement, disability, or similar plan of the Company unless required by law or otherwise provided by such other plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;k.*No Fractional Shares.* No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash shall be paid in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;l.*Headings.* Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;m.*Section 16 Compliance.* The Plan is intended to comply in all respects with Rule 16b-3 or any successor provision, as in effect from time to time, and in all events the Plan shall be construed in accordance with the requirements of Rule 16b-3. If any Plan provision does not comply with Rule 16b-3 as hereafter amended or interpreted, the provision shall be deemed inoperative. The Board, in its absolute discretion, may bifurcate the Plan so as to restrict, limit or condition the use of any provision of the Plan with respect to persons who are officers or Directors subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act without so restricting, limiting or conditioning the Plan with respect to other Eligible Persons.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;n.*Conditions Precedent to Issuance of Shares.* Shares shall not be issued, and the Company shall not have any liability for failure to issue Shares, pursuant to the exercise or payment of the purchase price relating to an Award unless such exercise or payment and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the requirements of any applicable Stock Exchange and the Delaware General Corporation Law. As a condition to the exercise or payment of the purchase price relating to such Award, the Company may require that the person exercising or paying the purchase price represent and warrant that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation and warranty is required by law.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;o.*Section 409A*. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Plan and Awards granted hereunder are intended to be exempt from or comply with the requirements of Section 409A and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intention. In the event that any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement is determined by the Committee to not comply with the applicable requirements of Section 409A or the applicable regulations and other guidance issued thereunder, the Committee shall have the authority (but without an affirmative obligation) to take such actions and to make such changes to the Plan or an Award Agreement as the Committee deems necessary to comply with such requirements. Any payment made pursuant to any Award shall be considered a separate payment and not one of a series of payments for purposes of Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything elsewhere in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, if upon a Participant's Separation From Service he/she is then a Specified Employee, then solely to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A and avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A, the Company shall defer payment of "nonqualified deferred compensation" subject to Section 409A payable as a result of and within six (6) months following such Separation From Service under this Plan until the earlier of (i) the first business day of the seventh month following the Participant's Separation From Service, or (ii) twenty (20) days after the Company receives written confirmation of the Participant's death. Any such delayed payments shall be made without interest. While it is intended that all payments and benefits provided under the Plan or an Award will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A, the Company makes no representation or covenant to ensure that the payments under the Plan or an Award are exempt from or compliant with Section 409A. In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable if a payment or benefit under the Plan or an Award is challenged by any taxing authority or for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on a Participant by Section 409A or any damages

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for failing to comply with Section 409A. The Participant will be entirely responsible for any and all taxes on any benefits payable to such Participant as a result of the Plan or an Award. If the applicable Award Agreement or Participant's employment agreement provides for Section 409A related provisions other than what is specified above in this Section 9(o), then such provisions in the Award or employment agreement shall govern.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;p.*Change in Control*. In the event that there is a Change in Control and/or the Company is a party to a merger or acquisition or reorganization or similar transaction, outstanding Awards shall be subject to the merger agreement or other applicable transaction agreement. Such agreement may provide, without limitation, that subject to the consummation of the applicable transaction, for the assumption (or substitution) of outstanding Awards by the surviving entity or its parent, for their continuation by the Company (if the Company is a surviving corporation), for accelerated vesting, or for their cancellation either with or without consideration, in all cases without the consent of the Participant and outstanding Awards do not have to all be uniformly treated the same way.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;q.*Recoupment of Compensation*. The Company may (i) cause the cancellation of any Award, (ii) require reimbursement of any Award by a Participant and (iii) effect any other right of recoupment of equity or other compensation provided under this Plan or otherwise in accordance with Company policies as may be adopted and/or modified from time to time by the Company and/or applicable law (each, a "Clawback Policy"). In addition, a Participant may be required to repay to the Company certain previously paid compensation, whether provided under this Plan or an Award Agreement or otherwise, in accordance with the Clawback Policy. By accepting an Award, a Participant is also agreeing to be bound by the Company's Clawback Policy which may be amended from time to time by the Company in its discretion (including without limitation to comply with applicable laws or stock exchange requirements) and is further agreeing that all of the Participant's Awards (and/or awards issued under the Prior Plan) may be unilaterally amended by the Company to the extent needed to comply with the Clawback Policy.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;r.*Dividends*. No dividends (that are paid by the Company to holders of Shares) will be paid or accrued with respect to Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units or unearned Performance Awards; however, dividends may be paid with respect to unvested Restricted Stock awards issued under the Plan that are subject to time-vesting requirements only.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;s.*Dissolution*. To the extent not previously exercised or settled, all Awards shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company and shall be forfeited to the Company (except for repayment of any amounts a Participant had paid to the Company to acquire unvested Shares underlying the forfeited Awards).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;t.*Limits on Awards to Non-Employee Directors*. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no Non-Employee Director serving in the below positions at any time during a Fiscal Year shall receive Awards during such Fiscal Year covering, in the aggregate, in excess of the following number of Shares (subject to adjustment under Section 4(c)) (the "Director Grant Limits").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;i.Chairperson or Lead Non-Employee Director: 50,000 Shares

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ii.Other Non-Employee Director: 50,000 Shares

**Section 10. Effective Date of the Plan** 

The Prior Plan was adopted by the Board effective as of February 18, 2022 and subsequently approved by Company stockholders. The Board approved this amendment and restatement of the Plan effective as of February 21, 2025 (the "Adoption Date"). If Company stockholders do not approve the amended and restated Plan on or before the consummation of the Annual Meeting, then the amended and restated Plan shall be null and void as of the day after the Annual Meeting and the Prior Plan in effect immediately prior to this amended and restated Plan shall continue in full effect. No further awards may be granted under the Prior Plan upon Company stockholder approval of this amended and restated Plan.

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**Section 11. Term of the Plan** 

No Award shall be granted under the Plan after (a) the tenth anniversary of the Adoption Date, or (b) any earlier date of discontinuation or termination established pursuant to Section 7(a) of the Plan. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award theretofore granted may extend beyond such date, and the authority of the Committee provided for hereunder with respect to the Plan and any Awards, and the authority of the Board to amend the Plan, shall extend beyond the termination of the Plan.

## Exhibit 5.1

**Exhibit 5.1**

June 26, 2025

Board of Directors

The Ensign Group, Inc.

29222 Rancho Viejo Road

Suite 127

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to The Ensign Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "***Company***"), in connection with its Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "***Commission***") on the date hereof (the "***Registration Statement***"), pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "***Securities Act***"). Pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Company is registering for issuance under The Ensign Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "***Board***") on February 21, 2025 and approved by the stockholders of the Company effective as of May 15, 2025 (the "***Plan***"), 4,230,804 shares (the "***Shares***") of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share ("***Common Stock***"). This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act in connection with the Registration Statement, and no opinion is expressed or may be implied herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement other than as to the valid issuance of the Shares.

As the basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed, we have reviewed originals or copies of the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.an executed copy of the Registration Statement;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B.a copy of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 15, 2007, and all Certificates of Amendment thereto filed with the Delaware Secretary of State through May 23, 2024;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C.a copy of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective as of November 15, 2007, as amended by the Amendment to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, dated August 5, 2014;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;D.a copy of the resolutions of the Board dated February 21, 2025 relating to, among other things, adoption of the Plan;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;E.a report of the inspector of election at the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company held on May 15, 2025, indicating that the adoption of the Plan was approved by the stockholders; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;F.the certificate of good standing covering the Company, issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of a recent date (the "**Good Standing Certificate**").

We have relied upon the foregoing and upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We have assumed for purposes of this opinion: (a) information contained in documents reviewed by us is true, complete and correct; (b) the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures on original documents; (c) the accuracy and completeness of all documents delivered to us and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; (d) the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (e) the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials; (f) the legal capacity of all natural persons; and (g) the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by parties other than the Company.

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We are opining herein as to the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction, or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized for issuance pursuant to the Plan and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We expressly disavow any obligation to advise you with respect to future changes in law or in our knowledge or as to any event or change of condition occurring subsequent to the date of this letter. This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities Act.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Holland & Hart LLP

## Exhibit 23.1

**EXHIBIT 23.1**

**CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM** 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-268018 on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 5, 2025, relating to the financial statements of The Ensign Group, Inc. and the effectiveness of The Ensign Group, Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.

*/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP* 

Costa Mesa, California

June 26, 2025

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