Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SB169 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 52 0748
2	2	Senate Bill 169
3	3	By: Senator Still of the 48th
4	4	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	5	AN ACT
6	6	To amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and
7	7	1
8	8	businesses, so as to provide for certain education and training requirements for the2
9	9	performance of dry needling; to provide for applicability and exceptions; to require licensed3
10	10	physical therapists who perform dry needling to complete certain education and training4
11	11	requirements; to revise definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective5
12	12	date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6
13	13	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7
14	14	SECTION 1.8
15	15	Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses,9
16	16	is amended in Chapter 1, relating to general provisions, by adding a new Code section to read10
17	17	as follows:11
18	18	"43-1-37.
19	19	12
20	20	(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this Code section, after13
21	21	January 1, 2026, no licensed healthcare professional authorized to perform dry needling in14
22	22	this state shall perform dry needling unless such professional demonstrates to the15
23	23	S. B. 169
24	24	- 1 - 25 LC 52 0748
25	25	satisfaction of the Georgia Composite Medical Board the successful completion of the16
26	26	following:17
27	27	(1) Coursework and training in the practice of dry needling totaling 1,365 hours, which18
28	28	shall include:19
29	29	(A) Instruction in medical theory, diagnosis, and treatment techniques specific to20
30	30	acupuncture totaling 705 hours; and21
31	31	(B) Clinical training in dry needling, including clinical observation and clinical22
32	32	internship, totaling 660 hours;23
33	33	(2) A nationally recognized clean needle technique course approved by the Georgia24
34	34	Composite Medical Board; and25
35	35	(3) A minimum of 500 dry needling treatments on at least 100 different patients during26
36	36	a 12 month period under the direct supervision of a licensed healthcare professional who27
37	37	has a minimum of four years of licensed clinical practice performing dry needling.28
38	38	(b) The requirements provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply to:29
39	39	(1) A licensed acupuncturist or a licensed physician who has successfully completed30
40	40	requirements to perform dry needling as established by the Georgia Composite Medical31
41	41	Board; or32
42	42	(2) A licensed physical therapist who, prior to January 1, 2026, successfully completed33
43	43	requirements to perform dry needling as established by the State Board of Physical34
44	44	Therapy.35
45	45	(c) The prohibition in subsection (a) of this Code section shall not prevent either of the36
46	46	following:37
47	47	(1) A student from performing dry needling while enrolled in an acupuncture education38
48	48	program and under the direct clinical supervision of a licensed acupuncturist; or39
49	49	(2) An individual from performing dry needling while completing requirements provided40
50	50	in subsection (a) of this Code section."41
51	51	S. B. 169
52	52	- 2 - 25 LC 52 0748
53	53	SECTION 2.
54	54	42
55	55	Said title is further amended in Code Section 43-33-18, relating to refusal to grant or restore43
56	56	licenses, discipline of licensees, suspension, revocation, or restriction of licenses, and44
57	57	immunity for violation reporters, by revising subparagraph (a)(2)(E) as follows:45
58	58	"(E) Performed dry needling treatment interventions without consulting an individual46
59	59	licensed pursuant to Article 2 or 4 of Chapter 34 of Title 43
60	60	this title and without47
61	61	complying with requirements provided for under Code Section 43-1-37."48
62	62	SECTION 3.49
63	63	Said title is further amended in Code Section 43-34-62, relating to definitions relevant to50
64	64	acupuncture, by revising paragraphs (1) and (4) as follows:51
65	65	"(1) 'Acupuncture' means a modality practiced on the basis of traditional Chinese medical52
66	66	principles and modern biomedical principles to stimulate underlying neural, muscular,53
67	67	and connective tissues for preventive and therapeutic purposes a form of therapy54
68	68	developed from traditional and modern Oriental concepts for health care that employs55
69	69	Oriental medical techniques, treatment, and adjunctive therapies for the promotion,56
70	70	maintenance, and restoration of health and the prevention of disease."57
71	71	"(4) 'Practice of acupuncture' means the insertion of disposable acupuncture filiform58
72	72	needles into the human body at either acupuncture points which have been clearly59
73	73	mapped out over underlying bony landmarks and musculature or trigger points and the60
74	74	application of moxibustion to specific areas of the human body based upon Oriental61
75	75	medical principles as a therapeutic modality. Dry needling is a technique of the practice62
76	76	of acupuncture. Adjunctive therapies within the scope of acupuncture may include63
77	77	manual, mechanical, moxibustion, herbal, thermal, electrical, and electromagnetic64
78	78	treatment and the recommendation of dietary guidelines and exercise, but only if such65
79	79	treatments, recommendations, and exercises are based on concepts of traditional Oriental66
80	80	Chinese medicine and are directly related to acupuncture therapy."67
81	81	S. B. 169
82	82	- 3 - 25 LC 52 0748
83	83	SECTION 4.
84	84	68
85	85	This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law69
86	86	without such approval.70
87	87	SECTION 5.71
88	88	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.72
89	89	S. B. 169
90	90	- 4 -