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HB1203 • 2026

Medical Occupations

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, relative to healthcare provider licensing.

Healthcare
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Kumar, Briggs
Last action
2025-05-13
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 317
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on disciplinary actions for non-compliance with private advocacy orders beyond initiating formal proceedings.

Healthcare Provider Licensing Changes

This bill allows Tennessee's board of medical examiners to issue licenses under private advocacy orders that require applicants with certain health conditions to participate in peer assistance programs.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the board of medical examiners to issue a license under a private advocacy order if an applicant needs it due to their health condition.
  • Requires the board to tailor each private advocacy order based on how the applicant's condition affects their ability to practice medicine safely and ethically.
  • Makes private advocacy orders confidential unless disciplinary action is needed because of non-compliance with the program.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Healthcare providers applying for or renewing a license in Tennessee.
  • The board of medical examiners who will decide on issuing licenses under private advocacy orders.

Terms To Know

Private Advocacy Order
A special condition attached to a healthcare provider's license that requires them to participate in a peer assistance program approved by the board of medical examiners.
Peer Assistance Program
A support program for healthcare providers dealing with health conditions like mental health issues or substance use disorders, approved by the board of medical examiners.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a provider fails to comply with their private advocacy order.
  • It is unclear how many healthcare providers will be affected by this change in licensing rules.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB1203

Plain English: The amendment adds new rules for healthcare providers to get licenses under certain conditions involving peer assistance programs.

  • Adds provisions allowing licensing boards to issue private advocacy orders during initial application interviews if they determine that a healthcare provider's condition currently impairs their ability to practice medicine competently, ethically, and professionally. These orders are not considered restrictions on the license but must be maintained or else disciplinary action can be taken.
  • Specifies that private advocacy orders are confidential unless formal disciplinary proceedings begin due to failure to maintain the required assistance.
  • The exact nature of peer assistance programs and how they will operate is not detailed in this amendment text.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 317

  2. 2025-05-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 05/02/2025

  3. 2025-05-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 317

  4. 2025-05-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  6. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  8. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Concurred, Ayes 32, Nays 0 (Amendment 1 - HA0254)

  9. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/17/2025

  10. 2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  11. 2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0

  13. 2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0254)

  14. 2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  15. 2025-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/14/2025

  16. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/10/2025

  17. 2025-04-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Calendar & Rules Committee to 4/10/2025

  18. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/3/2025

  19. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  20. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 4/1/2025

  21. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Health Committee to 4/1/2025

  22. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  23. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/25/2025

  24. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Health Committee

  25. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  26. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  27. 2025-03-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/17/2025

  28. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  29. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  30. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/12/2025

  31. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  32. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee

  33. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  34. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  35. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  36. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  37. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

P
resent law prohibits the board of medical examiners ("board") from requiring an applicant for licensure to disclose career fatigue as a requirement for initial licensure. However, the board may enter into an executive session for any discussion or delibe
r
ation of a licensee or prospective licensee's health conditions, including mental health conditions and substance use disorders, revealed during an application process.

This bill adds that, during an informal initial application interview during such an
executive session, the board may, in its discretion, issue a license under a private advocacy order requiring the applicant to maintain advocacy of a peer assistance program approved by the board. Any determination regarding the necessity for a private a
d
vocacy order must be individually tailored to the applicant's condition and how it currently impairs the applicant's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner absent such advocacy.

This bill clarifies that a private
advocacy order is not a restriction on the license. However, for an individual practicing under a private advocacy order, failure to maintain the advocacy of the peer assistance program constitutes a violation of the practice act for which the board may
t
ake disciplinary action.

This bill provides that private advocacy orders are confidential, privileged, and not public records subject to inspection by citizens of this state. However, if a practitioner fails to maintain advocacy and formal disciplinary
proceedings are initiated as a result of that failure, then the private advocacy order becomes a public record.

ON APRIL 15, 2025, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 359 FOR HOUSE BILL 1203, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 359, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 adds the provisions of this bill, as described in the bill summary, to the present law concerning licensure and regulation of osteopathic physicians.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 359
By Briggs

HOUSE BILL 1203
By Kumar

HB1203
002022
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63,
relative to healthcare provider licensing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-6-106, is amended by designating
the existing language as subsection (a) and adding the following as a new subsection:
(b)
(1) During an informal initial application interview during an executive
session held pursuant to § 63-1-169, the board may, in its discretion, issue a
license under a private advocacy order requiring the applicant to maintain
advocacy of a peer assistance program approved by the board. Any
determination regarding the necessity for a private advocacy order must be
individually tailored to the applicant's condition and how it currently impairs the
applicant's ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional
manner absent such advocacy. A private advocacy order is not a restriction on
the license.
(2) For an individual practicing under a private advocacy order, failure to
maintain the advocacy of the peer assistance program constitutes a violation of
the practice act for which the board may take disciplinary action.
(3) Private advocacy orders are confidential, privileged, and not public
records subject to inspection by citizens of this state, as described in §§ 8-44-
104(a) and 10-7-503. However, if a practitioner fails to maintain advocacy and

- 2 - 002022

formal disciplinary proceedings are initiated as a result of that failure, then the
private advocacy order becomes a public record.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.