HB191 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, TITLES, AND NONHUMAN ENTITIES.

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Enacted

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

Sponsor: Minor-Brown
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: Signed 4/23/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide information about penalties for violating this act, so it was removed from the summary.

Act to Prevent Non-Human Entities from Being Medical Professionals

This act stops non-human entities like AI agents from being licensed as medical professionals and using medical titles in Delaware.

What This Bill Does

Stops non-human entities, including AI-powered agents, from being licensed as professional nurses, APRNs, practical nurses, physicians, or physician assistants.
Prevents non-human entities from using specific medical titles like 'Doctor', 'Physician', and 'Nurse'.
Prohibits the use of abbreviations such as RN for Registered Nurse or MD for Medical Doctor by non-human entities.

Who It Names or Affects

Non-human entities that might want to be licensed as medical professionals.
Medical licensing boards in Delaware.

Terms To Know

nonhuman entity: A machine or program, like an AI system, that is not a living person.
AI agent: An artificial intelligence system designed to perform specific tasks, such as providing medical advice.

Limits and Unknowns

The effective date of the act has not been specified and depends on the Governor's signature date.

Bill History

2026-04-23 Delaware General Assembly
Signed by Governor
2026-03-24 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
2026-03-11 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Legislative Oversight & Sunset) in Senate with 5 Favorable
2026-01-20 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 3 ABSENT
2026-01-20 Delaware General Assembly
Assigned to Legislative Oversight & Sunset Committee in Senate
2026-01-13 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability)) in House with 5 On Its Merits
2026-01-08 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability) Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, TITLES, AND NONHUMAN ENTITIES.
This Act clarifies that a nonhuman entity, including an agent powered by AI, may not be licensed as a professional nurse, APRN, practical nurse, physician, or physician assistant. It further clarifies that a nonhuman entity may not use any of the foregoing professional titles.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Minor-Brown & Sen. Walsh & Rep. Romer & Rep. Griffith & Rep. Osienski & Sen. Pinkney

Reps. Berry, Harris; Sens. Hoffner, Sturgeon

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 191

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, TITLES, AND NONHUMAN ENTITIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 1920, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 1920. License requirements; use of abbreviations.

(h) A nonhuman entity, including an agent powered by artificial intelligence, may not be licensed in any of the following:

(1) The practice of professional nursing.

(2) Practice as an advanced practice registered nurse.

(3) The practice of practical nursing.

(i) A nonhuman entity, including an agent powered by artificial intelligence, may not use any of the following titles or abbreviations:

(1) Advanced Practice Registered Nurse or the abbreviation “APRN”.

(2) Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist or the abbreviation “CRNA”.

(3) Clinical Nurse Specialist or the abbreviation “CNS”.

(4) Certified Nurse Practitioner or the abbreviation “CNP”.

(5) Certified Nurse Midwife or the abbreviation “CNM”.

(6) Nurse.

(7) Registered Nurse or the abbreviation “RN”.

(8) Licensed Practical Nurse or the abbreviation “LPN”.

(9) Doctor or the abbreviation “Dr.”.

Section 2. Amend § 1720, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 1720. Certification requirements to practice medicine.

(k)

A nonhuman entity, including an agent powered by artificial intelligence, may not be certified to practice medicine in the State.

(

l

) A nonhuman entity, including an agent powered by artificial intelligence, may not use any of the following titles:

(1) Doctor or the abbreviation “Dr.”.

(2) Physician or surgeon.

(3) Medical Doctor or the abbreviation “MD”.

(4) Doctor of Osteopathy or the abbreviation “DO”.

Section 3. Amend § 1773, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 1773. Regulation of physician assistants.

(d) A nonhuman entity, including an agent powered by artificial intelligence, may not be licensed as a physician assistant in the State. A nonhuman entity, including an agent powered by artificial intelligence, may not use the title physician assistant or the abbreviation “PA”.

SYNOPSIS

This Act clarifies that a nonhuman entity, including an agent powered by AI, may not be licensed as a professional nurse, APRN, practical nurse, physician, or physician assistant. It further clarifies that a nonhuman entity may not use any of the foregoing professional titles.