Dry Needling by Occupational Therapists
Concerning dry needling by occupational therapists.
Official status: Became Law
Prime sponsors
- Lisa Feret (House) — Prime Sponsor
- Brandi Bradley (House) — Prime Sponsor
- Matt Ball (Senate) — Prime Sponsor
Progress (from the official record)
Official summary
Official text — shown in English exactly as published by the official source. The official text controls.
The act authorizes an occupational therapist to perform dry needling on and after September 1, 2027, if the occupational therapist: Has the knowledge, skill, ability, and documented competency to perform the act; Has successfully completed a dry needling course of study that meets supervisorial, educational, and clinical prerequisites to be established by rule; and Obtains a written informed consent from each patient for dry needling, including information concerning the potential benefits and risks of dry needling and a statement that the occupational therapist performing dry needling is not an acupuncturist. The act requires the director of the division of professions and occupations within the department of regulatory agencies to adopt rules to implement the authorization for an occupational therapist to perform dry needling. At a minimum, the rules must establish requirements for dry needling performed by an occupational therapist that are equivalent to the requirements in rules adopted by the state physical therapy board for dry needling performed by a physical therapist. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Status timeline
| Date | Location | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 01/14/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services |
| 02/04/2026 | House | House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 02/09/2026 | House | House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments |
| 02/17/2026 | House | House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor |
| 02/18/2026 | House | House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 02/20/2026 | Senate | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services |
| 03/11/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole |
| 03/16/2026 | Senate | Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 03/17/2026 | Senate | Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 03/25/2026 | House | Signed by the Speaker of the House |
| 03/26/2026 | Senate | Signed by the President of the Senate |
| 03/26/2026 | Governor | Sent to the Governor |
| 04/02/2026 | Governor | Governor Signed |
Recorded votes
- 03/11/2026 — Senate Health & Human Services: “Refer House Bill 26-1042 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.” — the motion passed on a vote of 9–0.
- 02/04/2026 — House Health & Human Services: “Refer House Bill 26-1042 to the Committee of the Whole.” — the motion passed on a vote of 12–0.
Proposed amendments (1 proposed amendment)
| Amendment | Committee / floor hearing | Offered | Disposition | Official document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L.001 Sponsor: Representative Feret | Floor amendment — Second Reading (House) | 02/17/2026 | Passed | View official document |
Source: Colorado General Assembly (leg.colorado.gov) · Data as of
Full text
- Signed Act version (official PDF), 04/02/2026
- Final Act version (official PDF), 03/24/2026
- Rerevised version (official PDF), 03/17/2026
- Revised version (official PDF), 03/16/2026
- Reengrossed version (official PDF), 02/18/2026
- Engrossed version (official PDF), 02/17/2026
- Introduced version (official PDF), 01/14/2026
Official record
View HB26-1042 on leg.colorado.gov
Source: Colorado General Assembly (leg.colorado.gov) · Data as of
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