CA AB 2497
deadPhysical therapists.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower
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Quick answers
Did CA AB 2497 pass?
No. CA AB 2497 did not pass — it was defeated or died in the legislative process. Latest recorded action (2026-05-28): Read third time. Refused passage. (Ayes 26. Noes 19. Page 5549.).
What is CA AB 2497 about?
Existing law, the Physical Therapy Practice Act, establishes the Physical Therapy Board of California to license and regulate physical therapists and the practice of physical therapy. A violation of the act is a crime. Existing law defines the terms "physical therapist," "physical therapist assistant," and "physical therapy" and sets forth the scope of practice of a physical therapist. Existing law authorizes only a licensed physical therapist to use the title "physical therapist" or the letters "P.T." or any other words, letters, or figures indicating that the person is a licensed physical therapist. Existing law requires the board to define those doctoral degrees that are in a related health science for specified provisions of the Physical Therapy Practice Act. Existing law authorizes a licensed physical therapist who has received a doctoral degree in physical therapy or, after the adoption of the above-described definition by the board, a doctoral degree in a related health science to, among other things, use the initials "DPT," "PhD," or "EdD", as applicable, in a written communication following the licensee's name. Existing regulations define a physical therapy related health science for the purpose of the above-described authorization to include, among other things, biology, biomechanics, and exercise physiology. This bill, among other changes to the act, would redefine "physical therapy," "physical therapist," and "physical therapist assistant" for purposes of the act, as specified. The bill would, among other things, prohibit the use of any words, abbreviation, or insignia implying that physical therapy is provided unless those services are provided by or under the direction of a licensed physical therapist. The bill would delete the requirement on the board to define the doctoral degrees that are in a related health science described above and would update those provisions to, instead, specify that the doctoral degrees in a related health science are those specified by the board in regulation. The bill would additionally authorize a licensed physical therapist who has received a doctoral degree in physical therapy or a related health science to use the initials "DSc", as applicable, following the licensee's name. This bill would delete existing requirements for the performance of tissue penetration by a physical therapist and instead would include within the practice of physical therapy the use of electrode needles to perform tissue penetration for the purpose of evaluating and interpreting performance of the neuromusculoskeletal system. Existing law prohibits a physical therapist from supervising more than 2 physical therapist assistants at one time and establishes conditions for the initiation of services by a physical therapist directly, including providing a specified notice, orally and in writing, to a patient that is signed by the patient. This bill would increase the number of physical therapist assistants a physical therapist is authorized to supervise from 2 to 3. The bill would require a physical therapist to refer a patient to a physician and surgeon or other appropriately licensed health care provider when the situation or condition of the patient is beyond the scope of the education and training of the physical therapist. The bill would repeal the notice and other requirements for the provision of direct physical therapy treatment services. Because the bill would expand the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors CA AB 2497?
Johnson is the primary sponsor of CA AB 2497.
Description
Existing law, the Physical Therapy Practice Act, establishes the Physical Therapy Board of California to license and regulate physical therapists and the practice of physical therapy. A violation of the act is a crime. Existing law defines the terms "physical therapist," "physical therapist assistant," and "physical therapy" and sets forth the scope of practice of a physical therapist. Existing law authorizes only a licensed physical therapist to use the title "physical therapist" or the letters "P.T." or any other words, letters, or figures indicating that the person is a licensed physical therapist. Existing law requires the board to define those doctoral degrees that are in a related health science for specified provisions of the Physical Therapy Practice Act. Existing law authorizes a licensed physical therapist who has received a doctoral degree in physical therapy or, after the adoption of the above-described definition by the board, a doctoral degree in a related health science to, among other things, use the initials "DPT," "PhD," or "EdD", as applicable, in a written communication following the licensee's name. Existing regulations define a physical therapy related health science for the purpose of the above-described authorization to include, among other things, biology, biomechanics, and exercise physiology. This bill, among other changes to the act, would redefine "physical therapy," "physical therapist," and "physical therapist assistant" for purposes of the act, as specified. The bill would, among other things, prohibit the use of any words, abbreviation, or insignia implying that physical therapy is provided unless those services are provided by or under the direction of a licensed physical therapist. The bill would delete the requirement on the board to define the doctoral degrees that are in a related health science described above and would update those provisions to, instead, specify that the doctoral degrees in a related health science are those specified by the board in regulation. The bill would additionally authorize a licensed physical therapist who has received a doctoral degree in physical therapy or a related health science to use the initials "DSc", as applicable, following the licensee's name. This bill would delete existing requirements for the performance of tissue penetration by a physical therapist and instead would include within the practice of physical therapy the use of electrode needles to perform tissue penetration for the purpose of evaluating and interpreting performance of the neuromusculoskeletal system. Existing law prohibits a physical therapist from supervising more than 2 physical therapist assistants at one time and establishes conditions for the initiation of services by a physical therapist directly, including providing a specified notice, orally and in writing, to a patient that is signed by the patient. This bill would increase the number of physical therapist assistants a physical therapist is authorized to supervise from 2 to 3. The bill would require a physical therapist to refer a patient to a physician and surgeon or other appropriately licensed health care provider when the situation or condition of the patient is beyond the scope of the education and training of the physical therapist. The bill would repeal the notice and other requirements for the provision of direct physical therapy treatment services. Because the bill would expand the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
- Introduced
- 2026-03-19
- Latest action
- 2026-05-28 — Read third time. Refused passage. (Ayes 26. Noes 19. Page 5549.).
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Johnsonauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-05-28
Read third time. Refused passage. (Ayes 26. Noes 19. Page 5549.).
failure,reading-1,reading-3
2026-05-22
Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 5274.)
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-05-19
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-05-18
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2026-05-14
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 10. Noes 2.) (May 14).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage
2026-05-06
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
referral-committee
2026-04-23
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
referral-committee
2026-04-22
Read second time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2026-04-21
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
referral-committee
2026-04-21
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 8.) (April 21).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2026-04-20
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-04-16
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
referral-committee
2026-04-15
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-03-23
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
referral-committee
2026-03-19
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-03-19
Referred to Com. on B. & P.
referral-committee
2026-02-21
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2026-02-20
Read first time. To print.
reading-1
Versions
- 02/20/26 - Introduced — 2026-02-20Compare
- 03/19/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-03-19Compare
- 04/15/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-04-15Compare
- 04/20/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-04-20Compare
- 04/22/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-04-22Compare
- 05/18/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-05-18Compare
- 05/22/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-05-22Compare
- AB2497Compare
- (document, no version)Compare
Documents
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Votes
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-04-21 · pass · 10-8
Member-level votes (19)
- Lowenthal: yes
- Berman: yes
- Chen: yes
- Hadwick: yes
- Hart: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Johnson: yes
- Addis: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: no
- Irwin: no
- Ahrens: no
- Nguyen: no
- Haney: no
- Bains: no
- Caloza: no
- Jackson: no
- Pellerin: other
Do pass as amended.
2026-05-14 · pass · 10-2
Member-level votes (15)
- Dixon: yes
- Krell: yes
- Tangipa: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Solache: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Caloza: no
- Fong: no
- Sharp-Collins: other
- Ta: other
- Pellerin: other
AB 2497 Johnson Assembly Third Reading
2026-05-28 · fail · 26-19
Member-level votes (80)
- Tangipa: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Wicks: yes
- DeMaio: yes
- Berman: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Flora: yes
- Krell: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Wallis: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: yes
- Ellis: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Gallagher: yes
- Davies: yes
- Lackey: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Garcia: yes
- Chen: yes
- Sanchez: yes
- Blanca Rubio: yes
- Johnson: yes
- Hadwick: yes
- Muratsuchi: no
- Stefani: no
- Bonta: no
- Valencia: no
- Caloza: no
- Kalra: no
- Nguyen: no
- Ramos: no
- Connolly: no
- Haney: no
- Rogers: no
- Ward: no
- Addis: no
- Ortega: no
- Harabedian: no
- Patel: no
- Fong: no
- Lee: no
- Boerner: no
- Bryan: other
- Soria: other
- Bauer-Kahan: other
- Celeste Rodriguez: other
- Schiavo: other
- McKinnor: other
- Alvarez: other
- Zbur: other
- Petrie-Norris: other
- Gabriel: other
- Calderon: other
- Solache: other
- Pellerin: other
- Jackson: other
- Rivas: other
- Bains: other
- Wilson: other
- Schultz: other
- Mark González: other
- Gipson: other
- Ta: other
- Hart: other
- Ahrens: other
- Michelle Rodriguez: other
- Arambula: other
- Irwin: other
- Castillo: other
- Aguiar-Curry: other
- Papan: other
- Quirk-Silva: other
- Ransom: other
- Sharp-Collins: other
- Carrillo: other
- Bennett: other
- Pacheco: other
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z
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