# Kentucky HB 48: AN ACT relating to physical therapy. Kentucky HB 48, AN ACT relating to physical therapy., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Amy Neighbors (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-07 (signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 36)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB48-2026RS - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky HB 48 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to physical therapy. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-07 - Last action: 2026-04-07, signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 36) - Sponsor: Amy Neighbors (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Boards And Commissions, Health And Medical Services, Licensing, Occupations And Professions, State Agencies - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (133 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 13 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - License path for foreign‑trained therapists: benefit, high. The Board licenses foreign‑educated PTs and PTAs who meet clear rules. You must show your education matches U.S. programs and your school is recognized. You must pass Board exams, pass an English test if needed, and complete 3 to 6 months of supervised practice or an approved alternative. You must… - Per diem pay for board members: benefit, low. Board members receive a per diem for approved days of work, set by the Board. The per diem cannot be more than $250 per day. Travel, lodging, and other necessary expenses are also paid. - Short-term and student practice exceptions: benefit, low. PT and PTA students may do clinical practice under a licensed PT as part of their program. Out‑of‑state PTs/PTAs can teach or do a supervised clinical residency in Kentucky for up to 90 days. Therapists who travel with out‑of‑state sports or entertainment groups may treat their members while in Ken… - Stricter rules and fines for unlicensed PT: cost, medium. It is illegal to practice or claim to practice physical therapy without a Kentucky license or compact privilege. You cannot use PT titles or bill for physical therapy unless a licensed PT provides or supervises the care. The law defines key terms so providers know what counts as physical therapy. T… - Violators pay board's investigative and legal costs: cost, medium. If the Board finds you violated the law, it can fine you the amount of its investigative and legal costs. This is on top of any other fines or penalties. This can increase the total cost of a violation for individuals and clinics. - Stronger discipline and privacy in PT cases: mixed, medium. The Board can refuse, suspend, revoke, limit, or place a license on probation, and issue reprimands or private admonishments after notice and hearing. Sexual contact with an active patient or that patient’s parent/guardian is discipline unless a consensual relationship existed before care; nonconse… - Clear rules to get or regain PT license: mixed, medium. The Board licenses you as a PT or PTA when you pass the Board-set exam and meet all qualifications. If your license lapsed three years or less, you can reinstate by paying the renewal fee and a Board-set reinstatement fee. If it lapsed more than three years, you must show you can practice competent… - Help for impaired PTs plus renewal fee: mixed, medium. The Board creates a committee to find, treat, and help rehabilitate impaired PTs and PTAs. It may contract with nonprofits to run the program. Committee records and proceedings are confidential and not public, and participants and good‑faith informants have legal immunity. The committee may share i… - New PT license steps and checks: mixed, medium. To get a Kentucky PT or PTA license, you must finish an accredited program and pay a nonrefundable application fee. The Board holds the licensure exam in Kentucky at least once each year. All applicants must complete state and FBI fingerprint background checks. If you are admitted to the exam, you… - License renewal, competency, and PTA rules: mixed, medium. The Board can require continuing competency to renew a license and can set ethical and practice standards. It regulates PTAs, including licensure, supervision, and education, and PTA fees cannot be higher than PT fees. Licenses renew every two years by March 31 of odd‑numbered years or they lapse.… - Background check fees capped, records kept private: mixed, low. Fees for state or FBI criminal background checks are capped at the actual processing cost. The Board may charge you that actual-cost fee as part of your application. The Board cannot give your criminal history records to private companies or to other licensing boards. - Telehealth rules and consent for physical therapy: mixed, low. Telehealth in physical therapy means using interactive audio, video, or other electronic tools for diagnosis, care, data transfer, or training. Before telehealth care starts, your PT or PTA must get your informed consent. They must keep your medical information private using Board-designated method… - New Physical Therapy Board and funding rules: mixed, low. The law creates a seven‑member Board of Physical Therapy appointed by the Governor with set terms and qualifications. The Board can hire an executive director and staff, set salaries, and use Attorney General hearing officers or hire its own; staff hired this way are exempt from KRS 18A. It must me… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Amy Neighbors (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-25 | Senate | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2026-02-09 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 95 | 0 | | ## Actions (20) - 2026-04-07: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 36) - 2026-03-26: delivered to Governor - 2026-03-26: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (House) - 2026-03-26: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (House) - 2026-03-26: received in House (House) - 2026-03-25: 3rd reading, passed 38-0 (Senate) - 2026-03-24: passed over and retained in the Consent Orders of the Day (Senate) - 2026-03-20: posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-11: 2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill (Senate) - 2026-03-10: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar (Senate) - 2026-03-06: to Licensing & Occupations (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-10: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-10: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-02-09: 3rd reading, passed 95-0 (House) - 2026-02-06: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, February 09 2026 (House) - 2026-02-05: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-02-04: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar (House) - 2026-01-14: to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H) (House) - 2026-01-07: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-01-07: introduced in House (House) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-02-09: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb48/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-02-09: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb48/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agencies and institutions, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergen… (became law) - SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities. (signed) - HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. (signed) - SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry. (signed) - SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (signed) - HB 826: AN ACT relating to education. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb48/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb48/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related - [SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agenc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB197-2026RS) - [SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB133-2026RS) - [HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB869-2026RS) - [SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB324-2026RS) - [SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB66-2026RS) - [HB 826: AN ACT relating to education.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB826-2026RS) - [Kentucky bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky/bills) - [Kentucky state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB48-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).