SB2243 • 2026

Medical Occupations

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 7; Title 24; Title 33; Title 38; Title 49; Title 53; Title 55; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68; Title 71 and Chapter 1042 of the Public Acts of 2024, relative to physician assistants.

Healthcare

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Johnson, Lamberth
Last action: 2026-03-17
Official status: Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Health and Welfare Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the licensure process or requirements beyond the decision timeframe change.

Reducing Decision Time for Out-of-State Physician Assistant Licensure

This act changes the time limit for the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants to make a decision on out-of-state licensure applications from 45 days to 35 days.

What This Bill Does

Changes the law so that the board has 35 days instead of 45 days to decide on an application for a license from someone who is already licensed in another state.

Who It Names or Affects

The Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants
People applying for a physician assistant license in Tennessee from another state

Terms To Know

Physician Assistant: A healthcare professional who works with doctors to provide medical care.
Licensure Application: The paperwork someone fills out to get permission to work as a physician assistant in Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

Only affects applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026.
Does not change other parts of the licensure process or requirements.

Bill History

2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Health Subcommittee of Health Committee
2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Health and Welfare Committee
2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/17/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/18/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/11/2026
2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee
2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Ref. to Health Committee - Government Operations for Review
2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Refer to Senate Health & Welfare Committee
2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Recalled from Senate Commerce & Labor Committee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 2555
By Lamberth

SENATE BILL 2243
By Johnson
SB2243
012657
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 7; Title 24; Title 33; Title 38; Title 49; Title 53;
Title 55; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68; Title 71 and
Chapter 1042 of the Public Acts of 2024, relative
to physician assistants.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-19-105(b)(2)(A), is amended by
deleting "forty-five (45) days" and substituting "thirty-five (35) days".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to completed applications submitted to the board of physician assistants on or after that
date.