# Alaska HB 173: LIC.: OCCUP/PHYS THERAPY;SPEECH;AUDIOLOGY

Alaska HB 173, LIC.: OCCUP/PHYS THERAPY;SPEECH;AUDIOLOGY, is a 34th Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Nellie Unangiq Jimmie (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-09-30 ((H) FN2: (CED)) (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-HB173-34
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Alaska HB 173
- State: Alaska
- Session: 34th Legislature (2025-2026)
- Title: LIC.: OCCUP/PHYS THERAPY;SPEECH;AUDIOLOGY
- Status: became law
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-04-07
- Last action: 2026-09-30, (H) FN2: (CED)
- Sponsor: Nellie Unangiq Jimmie (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 15
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (14 yes, 6 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 10

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Occupational therapy no longer needs referrals: benefit, medium. Patients can receive occupational therapy without a referral from another health care provider. Services include help with pain, daily tasks, swallowing, mobility, assistive devices, and physical and mental wellness. Assistants can provide only services they are qualified to perform, under an occup…
- Military therapists can keep licensing home: benefit, low. Active-duty service members and their spouses can keep a qualifying state as their occupational therapy licensing home during active duty. They must hold a current license in good standing in that state. Changing the home state requires applying for a new state license or using the compact’s home-s…
- States coordinate investigations of occupational therapists: benefit, low. Compact states can investigate occupational therapists and assistants together and must share relevant investigation, court-case, and compliance records. Home states must treat reported out-of-state conduct like conduct at home, applying their own laws. States can use another state’s factual findin…
- Therapist discipline suspends interstate work privileges: cost, medium. Only the home state can discipline an occupational therapist’s or assistant’s home-state license. Another participating state can discipline practice privileges there, following its existing due-process rules. Home-state discipline deactivates privileges in all other member states until all home-li…
- Occupational therapists gain interstate access with conditions: mixed, low. Alaska joins the occupational therapy compact, allowing eligible therapists and assistants to practice in participating states without separate licenses. Applicants need an unrestricted home-state license, no restrictions on any state license, and a valid Social Security or National Practitioner ID…
- Therapy applicants face checks with privacy limits: mixed, low. Alaska occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and audiology licensees applying for compact privileges must submit fingerprints and pay required fees. The law does not state fee amounts. Alaska can obtain criminal-history information for compact licensing across these professions, physical…
- Compact states get help and enforcement: mixed, low. Member states must enforce the compact and its rules as law; the commission can intervene in cases affecting it. The commission provides notice and technical help to states that fail to comply. After other measures fail, a majority vote can end membership; a majority vote also authorizes federal en…
- States face compact entry and exit rules: mixed, low. The occupational therapy compact takes effect when the tenth member state enacts it. The commission’s initial authority is limited to assembling and adopting rules needed to run the compact; later states follow existing rules. A state can leave by repealing the compact, but withdrawal takes effect…
- Therapist records shared with privacy safeguards: mixed, low. The compact commission must maintain a shared system of licensing, discipline, and investigation records. Member states must submit the data required by commission rules. Investigation information is available only to member states, and contributing states can restrict public release of discipline…
- Therapy commission gets powers and fees: mixed, low. A joint public commission runs the occupational therapy compact, with one delegate chosen by each member state’s licensing board. Its uniform rules bind member states. Commission personnel receive civil liability protection for covered official work; the commission must defend them and cover covere…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Nellie Unangiq Jimmie (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Burke
- Cosponsor: Jeremy Bynum (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: David Nelson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Alyse Galvin (Not), House
- Cosponsor: Andrew Gray (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Rebecca Himschoot (Not), House
- Cosponsor: DeLena Johnson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Andy Josephson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Genevieve Mina (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Robert Myers (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike Prax (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Calvin Schrage (Not), House
- Cosponsor: Rebecca Schwanke (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Andi Story (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Louise Stutes (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-05-20 | Senate | PASSED Y14 N6 | pass | 14 | 6 |   |

## Actions (65)

- 2026-09-30: (H) FN2: (CED) (House)
- 2026-09-30: (H) FN(S) ATTACHED TO APPROP. BILL HB 263 (House)
- 2026-09-30: (H) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 9/8/26 (House)
- 2026-09-30: (S) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 9/8/26 (Senate)
- 2026-07-03: (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 9/30/26 (House)
- 2026-07-03: (H) LAW W/O GOVERNOR SIGNATURE 6/30 CHAPTER 41 SLA 26 (House)
- 2026-06-17: (H) 3:10 P.M. 6/15/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR (House)
- 2026-06-10: (H) MANIFEST ERROR(S) (House)
- 2026-05-20: (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y39 A1 (House)
- 2026-05-20: (H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP (House)
- 2026-05-20: (H) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 27 (House)
- 2026-05-20: (H) CONCUR MESSAGE RECEIVED (House)
- 2026-05-20: (S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 173(FIN) AM S (Senate)
- 2026-05-20: (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED (Senate)
- 2026-05-20: (S) PASSED Y14 N6 (Senate)
- 2026-05-20: (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 173(FIN) AM S (Senate)
- 2026-05-19: (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/20 CAL (Senate)
- 2026-05-19: (S) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC (Senate)
- 2026-05-19: (S) FIN SCS ADOPTED UC (Senate)
- 2026-05-19: (S) READ THE SECOND TIME (Senate)
- 2026-05-19: (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/19/2026 (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) FN2: (CED) (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) NR: STEDMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK, MERRICK, KIEHL (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) DP: OLSON, HOFFMAN (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 27 (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) FIN RPT SCS 2DP 5NR NEW TITLE (Senate)
- 2026-05-07: (S) Minutes (SFIN) (Senate)
- 2026-05-07: (S) Moved SCS CSHB 173(FIN) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change -- (Senate)
- 2026-05-07: (S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532 (Senate)
- 2026-05-07: Audio/Video (House)
- 2026-04-13: (S) Heard & Held (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: (S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532 (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Audio/Video (House)
- 2026-02-06: (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): MYERS (Senate)
- 2025-05-13: (S) FIN (Senate)
- 2025-05-13: (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: (H) VERSION: CSHB 173(L&C) (House)
- 2025-05-12: (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) (House)
- 2025-05-12: (H) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY, SCHRAGE (House)
- 2025-05-12: (H) PASSED Y40 (House)
- 2025-05-12: (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 173(L&C) (House)
- 2025-05-10: (H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN (House)
- 2025-05-10: (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/12 CALENDAR (House)
- 2025-05-10: (H) L&C CS ADOPTED UC (House)
- 2025-05-10: (H) READ THE SECOND TIME (House)
- 2025-05-10: (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/10/2025 (House)
- 2025-05-07: (H) COSPONSOR(S): JOHNSON (House)
- 2025-05-07: (H) FIN REFERRAL REMOVED (House)
- 2025-05-07: (H) FN1: ZERO(CED) (House)
- 2025-05-07: (H) DP: BURKE, COULOMBE, CARRICK, SADDLER, NELSON, HALL, FIELDS (House)
- 2025-05-07: (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) 7DP (House)
- 2025-05-05: (H) Minutes (HL&C) (House)
- 2025-05-05: (H) Moved CSHB 173(L&C) Out of Committee (House)
- 2025-05-05: (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124 (House)
- 2025-05-05: Audio/Video (House)
- 2025-04-30: (H) Minutes (HL&C) (House)
- 2025-04-30: (H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 15 min. after adjournment -- (House)
- 2025-04-30: (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124 (House)
- 2025-04-30: Audio/Video (House)
- 2025-04-25: (H) COSPONSOR(S): BURKE, STORY (House)
- 2025-04-23: (H) COSPONSOR(S): MINA, JOSEPHSON (House)
- 2025-04-15: (H) COSPONSOR(S): HIMSCHOOT (House)
- 2025-04-11: (H) COSPONSOR(S): STUTES, NELSON, SCHWANKE, BYNUM (House)
- 2025-04-07: (H) L&C, FIN (House)
- 2025-04-07: (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS (House)

## Bill text

- Enrolled HB 173, 2026-05-20: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=HB0173Z), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/HB0173Z.PDF)
- SCS CSHB 173(FIN) am S, 2026-05-19: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=HB0173D), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/HB0173D.PDF)
- SCS CSHB 173(FIN), 2026-05-12: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=HB0173C), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/HB0173C.PDF)
- CSHB 173(L&C), 2025-05-07: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=HB0173B), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/HB0173B.PDF)
- HB 173, 2025-04-07: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=HB0173A), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/HB0173A.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB 195: PHARMACISTS; PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATES (became law)
- HB 73: COMPLEX CARE RESIDENTIAL HOMES (signed)
- HB 28: EDU: SCHOOLS/TEACHERS/SCHOOL BD/LOAN PRGM (became law)
- SB 178: EXPAND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES (became law)
- SB 86: MONEY TRANSMISSION; VIRTUAL CURRENCY (became law)
- SB 104: VEHICLES/BOATS: TRANSFER ON DEATH TITLE (became law)

## Sources
- [Enrolled HB 173 (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=HB0173Z)
- [Enrolled HB 173 (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/HB0173Z.PDF)
- [SCS CSHB 173(FIN) am S (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=HB0173D)
- [SCS CSHB 173(FIN) am S (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/HB0173D.PDF)
- [SCS CSHB 173(FIN) (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=HB0173C)
- [SCS CSHB 173(FIN) (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/HB0173C.PDF)
- [CSHB 173(L&C) (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=HB0173B)
- [CSHB 173(L&C) (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/HB0173B.PDF)
- [HB 173 (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=HB0173A)
- [HB 173 (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/HB0173A.PDF)

## Related
- [HB 195: PHARMACISTS; PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATES](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-HB195-34)
- [HB 73: COMPLEX CARE RESIDENTIAL HOMES](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-HB73-34)
- [HB 28: EDU: SCHOOLS/TEACHERS/SCHOOL BD/LOAN PRGM](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-HB28-34)
- [SB 178: EXPAND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-SB178-34)
- [SB 86: MONEY TRANSMISSION; VIRTUAL CURRENCY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-SB86-34)
- [SB 104: VEHICLES/BOATS: TRANSFER ON DEATH TITLE](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-SB104-34)
- [Alaska bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/alaska/bills)
- [Alaska state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/alaska)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-HB173-34 (as of 2026-11-04).