HB 3824 (2025): Changes to Physical Therapy Scope of Practice
July 31 update
At the July 31st, 2026, Board meeting, the Board finalized the workplan for rulemaking and related activities to take place from August 2026 through to HB 3824’s July 1, 2027 effective date.
In August, the Board will begin soliciting participants for the Main Workgroup that will inform development of draft rules to implement HB 3824 (2025), Sections 2-4, 6-15, 17, and 18. The Main Workgroup members will be established by early September, and meetings will begin in October 2026.
In addition, the Board will partner with other agencies for Sections 16, 19, 20 and 21, which include statute changes to imaging and disabled parking permits, for example.
The Main Workgroup will not address HB 3824’s Section 5 regarding dry needling.
As directed by the Governor, the Board will coordinate with the Oregon Medical Board (OMB) for Section 5, dry needling. Beginning in the fall, the Board will work with OMB to establish a workgroup for Section 5 of HB3824. The Board expects the Section 5 Workgroup to begin in February 2027. This timing allows for the Board to meet the Governor’s explicit direction to prioritize rulemakings for all other sections of HB 3824.
We maintain an interested parties list and will use this list to send information about the formation of the Main Workgroup and the Section 5 Workgroup. Other updates about the overall HB 3824 administrative rule making process will also be sent to this list.
About HB3824
HB 3824 was passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2025. When it goes into effect on July 1, 2027, it makes changes to what physical therapists are allowed to do under Oregon law.
HB3824 allows the Board to take actions before the 2027 effective date, including creating new rules and policies to match the new law. Section 2 through Section 22 establish 5 new statutes, change 15 statutes, and repeal 2 statutes. Taken together, Sections 2 through 22 result in rule changes necessary to all but 3 of OBPT’s rules.
IMPORTANT: Until July 1st, 2027, when HB3824 goes into effect, Physical Therapists may not implement any of the new scope of practice areas, such as ordering imaging (Section 19 of HB3824), performing dry needling (Section 5 of HB3824), or any other new function. Until July 1st, 2027, all current rules and statutes remain in effect.
If you have inquiries or questions, email rules.info@obpt.oregon.gov.
Documents:
Governor's Signing Letter
Final text of HB 3824
Oregon Legislative Information - HB 3824