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HB26-1231 • 2026

Physical Therapists Perform Sports Physicals

The bill requires that if a statewide high school activities association (association) requires a physical examination and written clearance from a health-care provider before a student may play or pa

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Rep. B. Bradley, Rep. M. Lukens, Sen. J. Marchman
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
House Committee on Education Postpone Indefinitely
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on when the bill will take effect or if it needs voter approval. This information is only mentioned in the official status explanation.

Physical Therapists Can Do Sports Physicals

This bill allows physical therapists to perform pre-participation sports physical exams and give written clearance for high school students to play team sports if the statewide association requires such an exam.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires that if a statewide high school activities association already mandates a physical examination by a health-care provider before a student can participate in supervised team athletic activities, it must also allow licensed physical therapists to provide this examination and written clearance.

Who It Names or Affects

  • High school students who want to join team sports
  • Statewide high school activities associations that set rules for student athletes
  • Licensed physical therapists

Terms To Know

Physical Therapist
A health-care professional trained in evaluating and treating problems related to the body's movement systems.
Pre-participation Physical Exam
An exam done before a student can join a team sport to check if they are physically ready and safe to play.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only applies if the statewide high school activities association already requires physical exams for sports participation.
  • It is not clear when this law will take effect, as it may need approval from voters in November 2026.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-26 House

    House Committee on Education Postpone Indefinitely

  2. 2026-02-18 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Education

Official Summary Text

The bill requires that if a statewide high school activities association (association) requires a physical examination and written clearance from a health-care provider before a student may play or participate in a supervised team athletic activity, the association shall permit a licensed physical therapist to provide the physical examination and written clearance for the student to play or participate.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED

LLS NO. 26-0485.01 Jacob Baus x2173 HOUSE BILL 26-1231
House Committees Senate Committees
Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING AUTHORIZING PHYSICAL THERAPISTS TO PERFORM101
PREPARTICIPATION PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR SCHOOL102
ACTIVITIES.103
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill requires that if a statewide high school activities
association (association) requires a physical examination and written
clearance from a health-care provider before a student may play or
participate in a supervised team athletic activity, the association shall
permit a licensed physical therapist to provide the physical examination
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Bradley and Lukens,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Marchman,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
and written clearance for the student to play or participate.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds and declares that:3
(a) Physical therapists licensed pursuant to article 285 of title 12,4
Colorado Revised Statutes, are health-care professionals who complete5
graduate-level education and clinical training in the evaluation of the6
musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems;7
(b) Preparticipation physical examinations for interscholastic8
athletic activities are intended to assess a student's physical readiness to9
safely participate in an athletic activity and identify potential risk factors10
for injury or illness;11
(c) Licensed physical therapists are trained and qualified to12
perform evaluations of strength, flexibility, balance, endurance,13
functional movement, and cardiovascular response to physical activity14
and to make appropriate participation determinations consistent with their15
scope of practice;16
(d) The bylaws of the Colorado High School Activities17
Association currently require a physical examination and written medical18
clearance for participation in interscholastic athletics and permit such19
clearance to be provided by licensed physicians, physician assistants,20
advanced practice registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and21
chiropractors; and22
(e) Permitting licensed physical therapists to perform23
preparticipation physical examinations and provide written clearance for24
interscholastic athletic activities increases access to timely care for25
HB26-1231-2-
students and families without compromising student safety.1
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-32-116.5, add2
(6.5) as follows:3
22-32-116.5. Extracurricular and interscholastic activities -4
definitions.5
(6.5) I F A STATEWIDE HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION6
REQUIRES A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND WRITTEN CLEARANCE FROM A7
HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER BEFORE A STUDENT MAY PLAY OR PARTICIPATE8
IN A TEAM ATHLETIC ACTIVITY, THE STATEWIDE HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES9
ASSOCIATION SHALL PERMIT A PHYSICAL THERAPIST LICENSED PURSUANT10
TO ARTICLE 285 OF TITLE 12 TO PROVIDE THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND11
WRITTEN CLEARANCE FOR THE STUDENT TO PLAY OR PARTICIPATE.12
SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act13
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the14
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August15
12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); ex cept that, if a16
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the17
state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act18
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect19
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in20
November 2026 a nd, in such cas e, will take effect on the date of the21
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.22
HB26-1231-3-