# Alaska SB 89: PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SCOPE OF PRACTICE Alaska SB 89, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SCOPE OF PRACTICE, is a 34th Legislature (2025-2026) Senate bill sponsored by Loki Tobin (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-06-19 ((S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 9/16/26) (as of 2026-11-04). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-SB89-34 - As of: 2026-11-04 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Alaska SB 89 - State: Alaska - Session: 34th Legislature (2025-2026) - Title: PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SCOPE OF PRACTICE - Status: became law - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-02-07 - Last action: 2026-06-19, (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 9/16/26 - Sponsor: Loki Tobin (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 7 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 1 (38 yes, 2 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 12 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Stronger safeguards for Alaska medical patients: benefit, low. Medical licensees, including physician assistants, face discipline after a hearing for denying care solely because a patient refuses arbitration. Unauthorized medical practice is a class A misdemeanor, with each day a separate offense; other Alaska-authorized practice remains exempt. A surrendered… - Insurers cannot narrow physician assistant practice: benefit, low. Insurers cannot impose stricter physician assistant practice, education, or collaboration rules than Alaska law or medical board rules allow. This restriction applies to health insurance contracts with participating providers. It limits insurers' ability to narrow physician assistant services throu… - Podiatry patients gain another referral option: benefit, low. Podiatrists treating signs of a body-wide disease in a hand or foot must also refer patients for that disease. The referral can now go to a physician assistant, as well as a physician or osteopath. - Injured workers can choose physician assistants: benefit, low. Workers covered by Alaska workers' compensation can choose a licensed physician assistant as their attending provider. The assistant no longer needs supervision by a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy for that designation. - Correctional care recognizes licensed physician assistants: benefit, low. Alaska correctional health care rules recognize state-licensed physician assistants as health care providers. That definition no longer requires direct supervision by a licensed physician or psychiatrist. - Physician assistants join Alaska medical board: benefit, low. Alaska's medical board includes one Alaska-licensed physician assistant, five Alaska-licensed physicians, and two public members. Public members cannot have direct financial interests in health care, and the board must reflect geographic representation. The board has explicit authority over physici… - Visiting physician assistants get licensing exceptions: benefit, low. Some physician assistants can provide care without the chapter's ordinary Alaska licensing requirements. Out-of-state licensed assistants qualify when an Alaska-licensed physician, osteopath, or assistant asks them to help diagnose or treat a case. That exception does not cover practice under Alask… - Physician assistants can provide broader care: mixed, medium. Alaska physician assistants can provide medical services they are trained and competent to perform, and are responsible for their care. Services include diagnosis, treatment, tests, medical equipment, home health, therapy, hospice, health certifications, medical documents, and death pronouncements.… - Medical providers must report dangerous impairment: mixed, low. Physician assistants treating Alaska-licensed physicians or osteopaths for addiction or listed mental or emotional disorders must report probable danger from continued practice. Reports must give the person's name, address, and condition. Physicians, assistants, hospitals, hospital committees, and… - Physician assistants get defined licensing paths: mixed, low. Alaska grants physician assistant licenses to applicants who meet its education, certification, exam, and other licensing requirements. Programs must have held the required accreditation when the applicant graduated. Before January 1, 2001, qualifying accreditors are the American Medical Associatio… - Temporary permits help fill medical vacancies: mixed, low. The medical board or its authorized representatives can issue temporary permits to eligible physician assistant applicants who pay the fee. Job-specific permits cover substitutes for Alaska-licensed physicians, osteopaths, or physician assistants, and work during evaluation for permanent employment… - Physician assistants get limited training waivers: mixed, low. Physician assistants can apply for continuing education waivers by showing special hardships or circumstances that satisfy the medical board. Waivers cannot exceed 15 hours in five years. At least two hours of pain management and opioid use and addiction education remain required. The board can wai… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Loki Tobin (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Cathy Giessel (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Andrew Gray (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Elvi Gray-Jackson (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Hughes - Cosponsor: Mike Prax (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Justin Ruffridge (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Frank Tomaszewski (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-05-07 | House | PASSED Y38 N2 | pass | 38 | 2 | | ## Actions (104) - 2026-06-19: (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 9/16/26 (Senate) - 2026-06-19: (S) LAW W/O GOVERNOR SIGNATURE 6/18 CHAPTER 21 SLA 26 (Senate) - 2026-06-04: (S) 10:14 A.M. 6/1/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR (Senate) - 2026-06-04: (S) MANIFEST ERROR(S) (Senate) - 2026-05-08: (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y18 N- E1 A1 (Senate) - 2026-05-08: (S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP (Senate) - 2026-05-07: (H) VERSION: HCS CSSB 89(HSS) (House) - 2026-05-07: (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDED (House) - 2026-05-07: (H) PASSED Y38 N2 (House) - 2026-05-07: (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HCS CSSB 89(HSS) (House) - 2026-05-07: (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC (House) - 2026-05-07: (H) HSS HCS ADOPTED UC (House) - 2026-05-07: (H) READ THE SECOND TIME (House) - 2026-05-06: (H) HELD TO 5/7 CALENDAR (House) - 2026-05-06: (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/6/2026 (House) - 2026-04-08: (H) FN4: ZERO(CED) (House) - 2026-04-08: (H) DP: FRIER, CARRICK, FIELDS, HALL (House) - 2026-04-08: (H) L&C RPT HCS(HSS) 4DP (House) - 2026-04-01: (H) Moved HCS CSSB 89(HSS) Out of Committee (House) - 2026-04-01: (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124 (House) - 2026-04-01: (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): RUFFRIDGE (House) - 2026-04-01: Audio/Video (House) - 2026-03-30: (H) Heard & Held (House) - 2026-03-30: (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124 (House) - 2026-03-30: Audio/Video (House) - 2026-03-23: (H) FN4: ZERO(CED) (House) - 2026-03-23: (H) DP: PRAX, FIELDS, GRAY, MEARS, SCHWANKE, MINA (House) - 2026-03-23: (H) HSS RPT HCS(HSS) 6DP (House) - 2026-03-19: (H) Moved HCS CSSB 89(HSS) Out of Committee (House) - 2026-03-19: (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106 (House) - 2026-03-19: Audio/Video (House) - 2026-03-10: (H) Minutes (HHSS) (House) - 2026-03-10: (H) Heard & Held; Assigned to Subcommittee (House) - 2026-03-10: (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106 (House) - 2026-03-10: Audio/Video (House) - 2026-03-09: (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): PRAX (House) - 2026-03-05: (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): GRAY, TOMASZEWSKI (House) - 2026-03-05: (H) HSS, L&C (House) - 2026-03-05: (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS (House) - 2026-03-04: (S) VERSION: CSSB 89(2D L&C) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: (S) PASSED Y18 N- E1 A1 (Senate) - 2026-03-04: (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 89(2D L&C) (Senate) - 2026-03-02: (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 3/4 CAL (Senate) - 2026-03-02: (S) 2D L&C CS ADOPTED UC (Senate) - 2026-03-02: (S) READ THE SECOND TIME (Senate) - 2026-03-02: (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/2/2026 (Senate) - 2026-02-25: (S) Minutes (SL&C) (Senate) - 2026-02-25: (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-25: (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) (Senate) - 2026-02-25: (S) FN3: ZERO(CED) (Senate) - 2026-02-25: (S) DP: GRAY-JACKSON (Senate) - 2026-02-25: (S) NR: BJORKMAN, MERRICK, YUNDT (Senate) - 2026-02-25: (S) L&C RPT CS(2D L&C) 3NR 1DP SAME TITLE (Senate) - 2026-02-23: (S) Minutes (SL&C) (Senate) - 2026-02-23: (S) Moved CSSB 89(2d L&C) Out of Committee (Senate) - 2026-02-23: (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Audio/Video (House) - 2026-02-18: (S) RETURNED TO L&C COMMITTEE (Senate) - 2025-05-19: (S) Minutes (SL&C) (Senate) - 2025-05-19: (S) Moved CSSB 89(L&C) Out of Committee (Senate) - 2025-05-19: (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) (Senate) - 2025-05-19: (S) FN2: ZERO(CED) (Senate) - 2025-05-19: (S) FN1: ZERO(CED) (Senate) - 2025-05-19: (S) AM: DUNBAR (Senate) - 2025-05-19: (S) NR: MERRICK, YUNDT (Senate) - 2025-05-19: (S) DP: BJORKMAN, GRAY-JACKSON (Senate) - 2025-05-19: (S) L&C RPT CS 2DP 2NR 1AM SAME TITLE (Senate) - 2025-05-19: Audio/Video (House) - 2025-05-16: (S) Minutes (SL&C) (Senate) - 2025-05-16: (S) (Senate) - 2025-05-16: (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) (Senate) - 2025-05-02: (S) Minutes (SL&C) (Senate) - 2025-05-02: (S) Heard & Held (Senate) - 2025-05-02: (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) (Senate) - 2025-05-02: Audio/Video (House) - 2025-04-16: (S) Minutes (SL&C) (Senate) - 2025-04-16: (S) Heard & Held (Senate) - 2025-04-16: (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Audio/Video (House) - 2025-03-14: (S) Minutes (SL&C) (Senate) - 2025-03-14: (S) Heard & Held (Senate) - 2025-03-14: (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) (Senate) - 2025-03-14: Audio/Video (House) - 2025-03-05: (S) FN2: ZERO(CED) (Senate) - 2025-03-05: (S) FN1: ZERO(CED) (Senate) - 2025-03-05: (S) DP: DUNBAR, CLAMAN, GIESSEL, TOBIN, HUGHES (Senate) - 2025-03-05: (S) HSS RPT 5DP (Senate) - 2025-03-04: (S) Minutes (SHSS) (Senate) - 2025-03-04: (S) Moved SB 89 Out of Committee (Senate) - 2025-03-04: (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 (Senate) - 2025-03-04: Audio/Video (House) - 2025-02-27: (S) Minutes (SHSS) (Senate) - 2025-02-27: (S) Heard & Held -- Agenda Change -- (Senate) - 2025-02-27: (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 (Senate) - 2025-02-27: Audio/Video (House) - 2025-02-26: (S) COSPONSOR(S): HUGHES (Senate) - 2025-02-18: (S) Minutes (SHSS) (Senate) - 2025-02-18: (S) Heard & Held -- Agenda Change -- (Senate) - 2025-02-18: (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 (Senate) - 2025-02-18: Audio/Video (House) - 2025-02-07: (S) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY-JACKSON, GIESSEL (Senate) - 2025-02-07: (S) HSS, L&C (Senate) - 2025-02-07: (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS (Senate) ## Bill text - Enrolled SB 89, 2026-05-08: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0089Z), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0089Z.PDF) - HCS CSSB 89(HSS), 2026-03-23: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0089D), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0089D.PDF) - CSSB 89(2d L&C), 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0089C), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0089C.PDF) - CSSB 89(L&C), 2025-05-19: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0089B), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0089B.PDF) - SB 89, 2025-02-07: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0089A), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0089A.PDF) ## Related bills - SB 86: MONEY TRANSMISSION; VIRTUAL CURRENCY (became law) - SB 104: VEHICLES/BOATS: TRANSFER ON DEATH TITLE (became law) - HB 265: APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET (signed) - HB 263: APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET;FUNDS;SUPP (signed) - HB 239: CRIME/CNTRL SUBST/ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY (became law) - HB 246: SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY FUNDING (became law) ## Sources - [Enrolled SB 89 (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0089Z) - [Enrolled SB 89 (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0089Z.PDF) - [HCS CSSB 89(HSS) (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0089D) - [HCS CSSB 89(HSS) (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0089D.PDF) - [CSSB 89(2d L&C) (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0089C) - [CSSB 89(2d L&C) (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0089C.PDF) - [CSSB 89(L&C) (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0089B) - [CSSB 89(L&C) (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0089B.PDF) - [SB 89 (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0089A) - [SB 89 (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0089A.PDF) ## Related - [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) - [HB 265: APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-HB265-34) - [HB 263: APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET;FUNDS;SUPP](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-HB263-34) - [HB 239: CRIME/CNTRL SUBST/ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-HB239-34) - [HB 246: SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY FUNDING](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-HB246-34) - [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-SB89-34 (as of 2026-11-04).