Back to Colorado

HB26-1307 • 2026

Sunset Colorado Medical Board

Sunset Process - House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill implements recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies in its 2025 sunset review and report on the Colorado medical bo

Education Healthcare
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. L. Gilchrist, Sen. K. Mullica, Sen. J. Rich
Last action
2026-03-18
Official status
House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Sunset Colorado Medical Board

This bill continues the operations of the Colorado Medical Board until September 1, 2035 and makes several changes to its functions.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the existence of the Colorado Medical Board for nine more years until September 1, 2035.
  • Exempts individuals with a natural medicine facilitator license from needing a medical license when providing certain services.
  • Changes the renewal period for distinguished foreign teaching physicians to be determined by the board as long as they are still part of a medical school's academic staff.
  • Allows the president of the Colorado Medical Board to serve on licensing panels during meetings.
  • Enables the board to issue administrative licenses to doctors who only perform non-patient care tasks, such as research and quality management.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Colorado Medical Board
  • Individuals with natural medicine facilitator licenses
  • Distinguished foreign teaching physicians
  • Doctors seeking administrative licenses

Terms To Know

Natural Medicine Facilitator License
A license that allows individuals to provide certain services related to natural medicine without needing a full medical license.
Distinguished Foreign Teaching Physician
A foreign doctor who teaches at a U.S. medical school and may have special licensing requirements.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact renewal periods for distinguished foreign teaching physicians.
  • It is unclear how many doctors will apply for administrative licenses under this new provision.

Amendments

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

L.001

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment adds a requirement for holders of administrative licenses to have medical liability insurance coverage as specified by Section 13-64-302.

  • Adds a new subsection that requires license holders to maintain medical liability insurance in the amounts required by another section of law.
  • The exact details and requirements for the medical liability insurance are not provided in this amendment text, only referenced to another section of law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-18 House

    House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations

  2. 2026-02-27 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services

Official Summary Text

Sunset Process - House Health and Human Services Committee.
The bill implements recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies in its 2025 sunset review and report on the Colorado medical board (board). Specifically:

Sections 1 and 6
of the bill continue the board for 9 years to September 1, 2035;

Section 2
exempts from the practice of medicine for which a license is required an individual who is facilitating natural medicine services within the scope of a natural medicine facilitator license;

Section 3
changes the license renewal period for a distinguished foreign teaching physician from annual renewal to a renewal period determined by the board, so long as the physician is still serving on the academic staff of a medical school;

Section 4
authorizes the president of the board to serve as a full member of the board's licensing panel for licensing panel meetings; and

Section 5
authorizes the board, on and after January 1, 2027, to issue an administrative license to a physician who provides certain services that are purely administrative in nature, such as research design and analysis and other roles that require a medical license, but that do not involve treating patients or prescribing medication. A physician with an administrative license is exempted from continuing medical education requirements.
(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. 26-0362.01 Brita Darling x2241 HOUSE BILL 26-1307
House Committees Senate Committees
Health & Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE CONTINUATION OF THE COLORADO MEDICAL101
BOARD, AND , IN CONNECTION THEREWITH , IMPLEMENTING102
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF REGULATORY103
AGENCIES IN THE DEPARTMENT'S 2025 SUNSET REPORT.104
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 w ill be av ailable at
http://leg.colorado.gov/.)
Sunset Process - House Health and Human Services
Committee. The bill implements recommendations of the department of
regulatory agencies in its 2025 sunset review and report on the Colorado
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Gilchrist and Bradley,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Mullica and Rich,
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.
medical board (board). Specifically:
! Sections 1 and 6 of the bill continue the board for 9 years
to September 1, 2035;
! Section 2 exempts from the practice of medicine for which
a license is required an individual who is facilitating
natural medicine services within the scope of a natural
medicine facilitator license;
! Section 3 changes the license renewal period for a
distinguished foreign teaching physician from annual
renewal to a renewal period determined by the board, so
long as the physician is still serving on the academic staff
of a medical school;
! Section 4 authorizes the president of the board to serve as
a full member of the board's licensing panel for licensing
panel meetings; and
! Section 5 authorizes the board, on and after January 1,
2027, to issue an administrative license to a physician who
provides certain services that are purely administrative in
nature, such as research design and analysis and other roles
that require a medical license, but that do not involve
treating patients or prescribing medication. A physician
with an administrative license is exempted from continuing
medical education requirements.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-240-105, amend2
(5) as follows:3
12-240-105. Colorado medical board - immunity - subject to4
review - repeal of article.5
(5) This article 240 is repealed, effective September 1, 2026 2035.6
Before the repeal, this article 240, including an analysis of physician7
responsibilities related to recommendations for medical marijuana and the8
provisions of section 25-1.5-106, are IS scheduled for review in9
accordance with section 24-34-104.10
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revise d Statutes, 12-240-107, add11
(3)(z) as follows:12
HB26-1307-2-
12-240-107. Practice of medicine defined - exemptions from1
licensing requirements - unauthorized practice by physician2
assistants and anesthesiologist assistants - penalties - definitions -3
rules.4
(3) A person may engage in, and shall not be required to obtain a5
license or a physician training license under this article 240 with respect6
to, any of the following acts:7
(z) THE FACILITATION OF NATURAL MEDICINE SERVICES WITHIN8
THE SCOPE OF THE NATURAL MEDICINE FACILITATOR LICENSE BY AN9
INDIVIDUAL WHO IS LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 170 OF THIS TITLE 1210
TO PERFORM AND SUPERVISE NATURAL MEDICINE SERVICES.11
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-240-111, amend12
(2) and (3) as follows:13
12-240-111. Distinguished foreign teaching physician license14
- qualifications - rules.15
(2) An applicant who meets the qualifications and conditions set16
forth in subsection (1) of this section but is not offered the rank of17
associate professor or higher may be granted a temporary license for one18
year only, to practice medicine in this state as a member of the academic19
faculty at the discretion of the board and in the manner determined by the20
board. If the applicant is granted a temporary license, he or she THEY shall21
practice only under the direct supervision of a person A MEMBER OF THE22
ACADEMIC FACULTY who has the rank of associate professor or higher.23
(3) A distinguished foreign teaching physician license is effective24
and in force only while the holder is serving on the academic staff of a25
medical school. The license expires one year after the date of issuance26
and may be renewed annually IS SUBJECT TO THE RENEWAL PROVISIONS27
HB26-1307-3-
SPECIFIED IN SECTION 12-20-202 (1) AND MAY BE RENEWED only after the1
board has specifically determined that the conditions specified in2
subsection (1) or (2) of this section will continue during the ensuing3
period of licensure. The board may require an applicant for licensure4
under this section to present himself or herself THEMSELF to the board for5
an interview. The board may withdraw licensure granted under this6
section prior to the expiration of the license IF THE LICENSE HOLDER IS NO7
LONGER SERVING ON THE ACADEMIC STAFF OF A MEDICAL SCHOOL OR for8
unprofessional conduct as defined in section 12-240-121.9
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revi sed Statutes, 12-240-116, add10
(1)(d) as follows:11
12-240-116. Licensing panel.12
(1) (d) T HE PRESIDENT MAY SERVE AS A FULL MEMBER OF THE13
LICENSING PANEL AT LICENSING PANEL MEETINGS.14
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 12-240-119.5 as15
follows:16
12-240-119.5. Administrative license - qualifications -17
exemption from continuing medical education requirements - board18
rules.19
(1) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE 240, ON20
AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 2027, THE BOARD MAY ISSUE TO A PHYSICIAN AN21
ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE THAT LIMITS THE PHYSICIAN 'S MEDICAL22
PRACTICE TO ONLY ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES , AS DESCRIBED IN23
SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION, IF THE PHYSICIAN:24
(a) H OLDS OR HELD AN UNRESTRICTED LICENSE TO PRACTICE25
MEDICINE IN THIS STATE OR MEETS ANY OTHER LICENSING REQUIREMENTS26
AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD BY RULE;27
HB26-1307-4-
(b) PAYS THE FEE ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12-20-105;1
AND2
(c) S ATISFIES ANY OTHER REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE3
BOARD BY RULE OR STIPULATION.4
(2) SUBJECT TO THE PROHIBITIONS SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (3) OF5
THIS SECTION, A PHYSICIAN HOLDING AN ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE MAY:6
(a) ENGAGE IN EVIDENCE-BASED PROTOCOL DESIGN;7
(b) P ARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES RELATED TO QUALITY8
MANAGEMENT;9
(c) DEVELOP PATIENT SAFETY PROTOCOLS;10
(d) DESIGN OR ANALYZE RESEARCH; OR11
(e) ENGAGE IN ANY OTHER ACTIVITY APPROVED BY THE BOARD BY12
RULE OR STIPULATION.13
(3) A PHYSICIAN PRACTICING UNDER AN ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE14
IS PROHIBITED FROM ENGAGING IN NONADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF15
MEDICAL PRACTICE, INCLUDING:16
(a) P ATIENT CONTACT , INCLUDING THE ASSESSMENT OF A17
PATIENT'S MEDICAL HISTORY OR CURRENT MEDICAL CONDITION OR THE18
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF A PATIENT;19
(b) D EVELOPING PATIENT TREATMENT PLANS OR TREATING A20
PATIENT;21
(c) ORDERING TESTS;22
(d) PRESCRIBING; AND23
(e) E NGAGING IN ANY OTHER NONADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES ,24
UNLESS SPECIFICALLY APPROVED BY THE BOARD BY RULE OR STIPULATION.25
(4) A N ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS26
SECTION IS SUBJECT TO THE RENEWAL , REINSTATEMENT , AND27
HB26-1307-5-
REACTIVATION REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN SECTION 12-240-130.1
(5) A HOLDER OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE IS NOT REQUIRED2
TO COMPLY WITH CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS SET3
FORTH IN SECTION 12-240-130.5.4
(6) T HE BOARD SHALL ADOPT ANY RULES NECESSARY TO5
ADMINISTER THE ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE AND TO REGULATE6
ADMINISTRATIVE MEDICAL PRACTICE UNDER THE LICENSE.7
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-34-104, repeal8
(27)(a)(XIV); and add (36)(a)(VII) as follows:9
24-34-104. General assembly review of regulatory agencies10
and functions for repeal, continuation, or reestablishment - legislative11
declaration - repeal.12
(27) (a) The following agencies, functions, or both, are scheduled13
for repeal on September 1, 2026:14
(XIV) The Colorado medical board created in article 240 of title15
12;16
(36) (a) The following agencies, functions, or both, are scheduled17
for repeal on September 1, 2035:18
(VII) THE COLORADO MEDICAL BOARD CREATED IN ARTICLE 24019
OF TITLE 12.20
SECTION 7. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act21
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the22
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August23
12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a24
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the25
state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act26
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect27
HB26-1307-6-
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in1
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the2
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.3
HB26-1307-7-