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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

Healthcare Labor
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

The specific details of the required courses and patient consents are not fully detailed in the provided summary.

Allowing Occupational Therapists to Do Dry Needling

This law lets occupational therapists perform dry needling after September 1, 2027, if they meet certain requirements.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows occupational therapists to perform dry needling starting on September 1, 2027.
  • Requires occupational therapists to have the knowledge, skill, ability, and documented competency to perform dry needling safely.
  • Needs occupational therapists to complete a special course before performing dry needling.
  • Makes sure patients give their written consent for the therapist to do dry needling.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Occupational therapists who want to perform dry needling after September 1, 2027.
  • Patients who receive dry needling from occupational therapists.

Terms To Know

Dry Needling
A treatment that uses thin needles to help with pain and muscle problems.
Occupational Therapist
A healthcare worker who helps people do everyday activities by improving their physical abilities or teaching them new ways of doing things.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact rules for occupational therapists to follow when performing dry needling will be established later through regulations.
  • It is not clear how many patients will choose this treatment from occupational therapists.

Amendments

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

L.001

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the information that occupational therapists must provide to patients before performing dry needling and adds requirements for rules governing dry needling.

  • Occupational therapists must now give patients specific information about the benefits and risks of dry needling, as well as a statement clarifying that they are not acupuncturists.
  • The amendment also requires new rules to be at least as strict as those for physical therapists performing dry needling.
  • The exact details of the new rules and their implementation are not specified in this amendment text.

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.)