Colorado Bill Authorizes Dry Needling by Occupational Therapists

CO Legislature Bill Search

Published September 1st, 2027

Detected March 12th, 2026

Summary

Colorado Bill HB26-1042 authorizes occupational therapists to perform dry needling starting September 1, 2027, provided they meet specific training and patient consent requirements. The bill mandates the division of professions and occupations to adopt equivalent rules to those for physical therapists.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

Colorado Bill HB26-1042, introduced for the 2026 Regular Session, authorizes licensed occupational therapists to perform dry needling services beginning September 1, 2027. To do so, therapists must possess documented competency, complete a qualifying dry needling course of study, and obtain written informed consent from patients, which must include information on benefits, risks, and a statement that the therapist is not an acupuncturist.

The bill requires the director of the division of professions and occupations to establish rules implementing this authorization, ensuring these requirements are equivalent to those for physical therapists performing dry needling. Compliance will necessitate occupational therapists obtaining specific training and adhering to new patient consent protocols. The regulatory agency must develop and publish these rules prior to the effective date.

What to do next

Monitor the development and adoption of rules by the division of professions and occupations regarding dry needling requirements for occupational therapists.
Ensure occupational therapists seeking to perform dry needling obtain the required training and documentation.
Develop and implement patient informed consent procedures that meet the bill's specifications.

Source document (simplified)

HB26-1042

Dry Needling by Occupational Therapists

| Type | Bill |
| --- | --- |
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Professions & Occupations |
Concerning dry needling by occupational therapists.

Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary:

On and after September 1, 2027, the bill authorizes an occupational therapist to perform dry needling 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 bill requires the director of the division of professions and occupations within the department of regulatory agencies ~~is required~~ to adopt rules to implement the ~~bill~~ authorization for an occupational therapist to perform dry needling. The bill specifies that, 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: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Prime Sponsors

Representative

Lisa Feret
Representative

Brandi Bradley
Senator

Matt Ball

Committees

House

Health & Human Services

Senate

Health & Human Services

If you require reasonable accessibility accommodation to access this content, please email accessibility@coleg.gov.

Status

Under Consideration

Introduced

Under Consideration

Related Documents & Information

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 02/18/2026 | Reengrossed | PDF |
| 02/17/2026 | Engrossed | PDF |
| 01/14/2026 | Introduced | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 01/27/2026 | Initial Fiscal Note | PDF |

| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. | Vote summary |

| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refer House Bill 26-1042 to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 12-0. | Vote summary |
Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF
| Date | Calendar | Motion | Vote | Vote Document |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 02/18/2026 | Third Reading | BILL | 59 AYE 0 NO 6 OTHER | Vote record |

| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 02/17/2026 | L.001 | Second Reading | Passed [**] | PDF |
* Amendments passed in committee are not incorporated into the measure unless adopted by the full House or Senate.

** The status of Second Reading amendments may be subsequently affected by the adoption of an amendment to the Committee of the Whole Report. Refer to the House or Senate Journal for additional information.

| Date | Location | Action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/11/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole |
| 02/20/2026 | Senate | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services |
| 02/18/2026 | House | House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 02/17/2026 | House | House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor |
| 02/09/2026 | House | House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments |
| 02/04/2026 | House | House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 01/14/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services |
Prime Sponsor

Rep. B. Bradley | Rep. L. Feret

Sen. M. Ball

Sponsor

(None) Co-Sponsor