Frankfort, Kentucky (April 8, 2026) – Legislation, sponsored by Representative Amy Neighbors (R–Edmonton), that will bring statutes governing the Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy in line with the current delivery of care was received by the secretary of state from the governor and will now become law. The measure, House Bill 48, will modernize and streamline statutes governing Kentucky’s Board of Physical Therapy to improve clarity, readability, and understanding for both the public and licensed professionals.
“House Bill 48 becoming law represents years of work to modernize physical therapy laws that have remained largely unchanged for nearly forty years, even as the delivery of health care has evolved,” said Neighbors. “This needed modernization brings our statutes in line with modern standards and practices while improving clarity, organization, and readability for both licensed professionals and the public they serve.”
According to Neighbors, for more than 15 years, the Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy has worked collaboratively with the American Physical Therapy Association of Kentucky to modernize the Physical Therapy Practice Act.
House Bill 48 will streamline language in statute to ensure that physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and patients understand it. As a result, the legislation will define physical therapist assistant and change their designation from certified to licensed to allow for insurance reimbursement. It also will adopt a process for licensees to ask for expungement of minor violations unrelated to the practice of physical therapy or patient harm. The Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy will also be given the statutory authority to purchase professional liability insurance and promulgate regulations to establish fees. It will also update statute concerning investigations of a violation, the handling of sexual misconduct allegations, and oversight of physical therapists or physical therapist assistants who have been educated outside of the United States.
“While House Bill 48 will not expand scope of practice, it will provide clearer rules for licensed physical therapy professionals and ensure patients continue to receive the safe, high-quality care they expect and deserve,” Neighbors added.
According to the Kentucky Constitution, legislation, unless it is a general appropriations bill or contains an emergency or special effective date, will take effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns. This measure will take effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns. For more information on HB 48, please click here or visit legislature.ky.gov.
Photo: Representative Amy Neighbors discusses House Bill 48 before the Kentucky House on February 9.
(Emily O’Connor, Communications Specialist — Office of the Speaker — Kentucky House of Representatives)