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HB26-1042 • 2026

Dry Needling by Occupational Therapists

The act authorizes an occupational therapist to perform dry needling on and after September 1, 2027, if the occupational therapist: Has the knowledge, skill, ability, and documented competency to perf

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Rep. B. Bradley, Rep. L. Feret, Sen. M. Ball, Rep. C. Barron, Rep. M. Brooks, Rep. C. Clifford, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. L. Garcia Sander, Rep. L. Goldstein, Rep. R. Gonzalez, Rep. S. Lieder, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. K. Stewart, Rep. T. Story, Rep. S. Woodrow, Sen. J. Carson, Sen. M. Weissman
Last action
2026-04-02
Official status
Governor Signed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

HB26-1042: Dry Needling by Occupational Therapists

This law allows occupational therapists to perform dry needling starting September 1, 2027, if they have the required skills, complete a specific course, and get written consent from patients.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows occupational therapists to use dry needling on or after September 1, 2027.
  • Requires therapists to show knowledge, skill, ability, and documented competency for the procedure.
  • Mandates completion of a dry needling course that meets prerequisites set by future rules.
  • Requires therapists to get written informed consent from patients before performing dry needling.
  • Directs the director of professions and occupations to create new rules for this practice.
  • Sets minimum standards equal to those already required for physical therapists.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Occupational therapists who want to perform dry needling
  • Patients receiving care from occupational therapists
  • The director of the division of professions and occupations

Terms To Know

Dry Needling
A procedure authorized for occupational therapists under this law.
Informed Consent
Written permission from a patient that includes information about potential benefits, risks, and the fact that the therapist is not an acupuncturist.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The specific course prerequisites will be decided later by state rules.
  • Other details for implementing this law are set to be established through future rule-making.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

L.001

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: This amendment requires occupational therapists to give patients specific warnings about dry needling and ensures their training rules match those for physical therapists.

  • Occupational therapists must tell patients the possible benefits and risks of dry needling before doing it.
  • Therapists must clearly state that they are not licensed acupuncturists when performing this procedure.
  • The new rules for training occupational therapists in dry needling must be at least as strict as the current rules for physical therapists.
  • The amendment text does not explain exactly what specific steps or hours of training are required, only that they must match existing physical therapy standards.
  • The full list of other requirements mentioned in the original bill is not included in this short excerpt.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-02 Governor

    Governor Signed

  2. 2026-03-26 Governor

    Sent to the Governor

  3. 2026-03-26 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-03-25 House

    Signed by the Speaker of the House

  5. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-03-16 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

  7. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

  8. 2026-02-20 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services

  9. 2026-02-18 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  10. 2026-02-17 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor

  11. 2026-02-09 House

    House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  12. 2026-02-04 House

    House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

  13. 2026-01-14 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services

Official Summary Text

The act authorizes an occupational therapist to perform dry needling on and after September 1, 2027, if the occupational therapist:
Has the knowledge, skill, ability, and documented competency to perform the act;
Has successfully completed a dry needling course of study that meets supervisorial, educational, and clinical prerequisites to be established by rule; and
Obtains a written informed consent from each patient for dry needling, including information concerning the potential benefits and risks of dry needling and a statement that the occupational therapist performing dry needling is not an acupuncturist.
The act requires the director of the division of professions and occupations within the department of regulatory agencies to adopt rules to implement the authorization for an occupational therapist to perform dry needling. At a minimum, the rules must establish requirements for dry needling performed by an occupational therapist that are equivalent to the requirements in rules adopted by the state physical therapy board for dry needling performed by a physical therapist.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)