Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate 1 D cosponsors

SB 144 — Health occupations: physical therapists; prescription requirement for physical therapy treatment; eliminate, and make other modifications to the practice of physical therapy. Amends secs. 17801, 17820, 17822, 17824 & 17825 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.17801 et seq.) & adds sec. 17825a.

Last action — referred to second reading

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced June 24, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 48% · moderate confidence

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill removes the prescription requirement for physical therapy treatment.

This bill eliminates the need for a prescription to receive physical therapy services, along with making other adjustments to the practice. It aims to streamline access to physical therapy care.

What this means for you
  • Consumers: This means consumers may receive physical therapy without needing a doctor's prescription, potentially making treatment more accessible.

Summary

Health occupations: physical therapists; prescription requirement for physical therapy treatment; eliminate, and make other modifications to the practice of physical therapy. Amends secs. 17801, 17820, 17822, 17824 & 17825 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.17801 et seq.) & adds sec. 17825a.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

8 added · 7 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill SB 144, eight new lines have been added while seven lines have been removed. The changes likely reflect updates or modifications to improve clarity or address specific concerns raised during the legislative process. This is important because it ensures that the bill is more effective in addressing the issues it aims to solve, which can ultimately benefit the communities it affects.

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Latest
SENATE BILL NO.
SB-144, As Passed Senate, April 22, 2025 SENATE BILL NO.
EMR S01326'25_SB0144_INTR_1 tj31mp 1 (a) "Health care professional" means an individual who is an advanced practice registered nurse as that term is defined in section 17201, or who holds a license issued under part 166, 170, 175, or 180, or an equivalent license issued by another state.
EMR S01326'25_SB144_APS_1 mnvpid 1 (a) "Health care professional" means an individual who is an advanced practice registered nurse as that term is defined in section 17201, or who holds a license issued under part 166, 170, 175, or 180, or an equivalent license issued by another state.
, the initiation EMR S01326'25_SB0144_INTR_1 tj31mp 1 of referrals;
, the initiation EMR S01326'25_SB144_APS_1 mnvpid 1 of referrals;
A physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant may engage in the treatment of a patient without the EMR S01326'25_SB0144_INTR_1 tj31mp 1 prescription of a health care professional who is an advanced practice registered nurse as that term is defined in section 17201, or who holds a license issued under part 166, 170, 175, or 180, or an equivalent license issued by another state, under either of the following circumstances:
A physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant may engage in the treatment of a patient without the EMR S01326'25_SB144_APS_1 mnvpid 1 prescription of a health care professional who is an advanced practice registered nurse as that term is defined in section 17201, or who holds a license issued under part 166, 170, 175, or 180, or an equivalent license issued by another state, under either of the following circumstances:
This part does not prohibit a hospital, as a condition of employment or the granting of staff privileges, from requiring that a physical therapist perform activities within his EMR S01326'25_SB0144_INTR_1 tj31mp 1 or her the physical therapist's scope of practice in the hospital if that treatment is prescribed by an individual who is an advanced practice registered nurse as that term is defined in section 17201, or who holds a license issued under part 166, 170, 175, or 180, or an equivalent license issued by another state.a health care professional.
This part does not prohibit a hospital, as a condition of employment or the granting of staff privileges, from requiring that a physical therapist perform activities within his EMR S01326'25_SB144_APS_1 mnvpid 1 or her the physical therapist's scope of practice in the hospital if that treatment is prescribed by an individual who is an advanced practice registered nurse as that term is defined in section 17201, or who holds a license issued under part 166, 170, 175, or 180, or an equivalent license issued by another state.a health care professional.
EMR S01326'25_SB0144_INTR_1 tj31mp 1 (b) Consult with an appropriate health care professional 1 of the following if the patient does not show reasonable response to treatment within 60 days after initiating treatment or in a time period consistent with the generally accepted standards of for the practice as determined by the board.of physical therapy, whichever occurs first:
EMR S01326'25_SB144_APS_1 mnvpid 1 (b) Consult with an appropriate health care professional 1 of the following if the patient does not show reasonable response to treatment within 60 days after initiating treatment or in a time period consistent with the generally accepted standards of for the practice as determined by the board.of physical therapy, whichever occurs first:
EMR S01326'25_SB0144_INTR_1 tj31mp 1 (c) A significant complication that was not present when the initial evaluation occurred and the plan of care was initially drafted for the patient.
EMR S01326'25_SB144_APS_1 mnvpid 1 (c) A significant complication that was not present when the initial evaluation occurred and the plan of care was initially drafted for the patient.
Final Page EMR S01326'25_SB0144_INTR_1 tj31mp
Final Page EMR S01326'25_SB144_APS_1 mnvpid
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Action History

  1. referred to second reading

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (146)

146 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 146 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

PASSED

Passed 36 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 16001
Democrat 19000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 36001
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (37)
Member Party Vote
Outman — Yea
Darrin Camilleri Democrat Yea
Dayna Polehanki Democrat Yea
Erika Geiss Democrat Yea
Jeff Irwin Democrat Yea
Jeremy Moss Democrat Yea
John Cherry Democrat Yea
Kevin Hertel Democrat Yea
Mallory McMorrow Democrat Yea
Mary Cavanagh Democrat Yea
Paul Wojno Democrat Yea
Rosemary Bayer Democrat Yea
Sam Singh Democrat Yea
Sarah Anthony Democrat Yea
Sean McCann Democrat Yea
Stephanie Chang Democrat Yea
Sue Shink Democrat Yea
Sylvia Santana Democrat Yea
Veronica Klinefelt Democrat Yea
Winnie Brinks Democrat Yea
Aric Nesbitt Republican Yea
Dan Lauwers Republican Yea
Edward McBroom Republican Not Voting
Jim Runestad Republican Yea
John Damoose Republican Yea
Jon Bumstead Republican Yea
Jonathan Lindsey Republican Yea
Joseph Bellino Jr. Republican Yea
Kevin Daley Republican Yea
Lana Theis Republican Yea
Mark Huizenga Republican Yea
Michael Webber Republican Yea
Michele Hoitenga Republican Yea
Roger Hauck Republican Yea
Roger Victory Republican Yea
Ruth Johnson Republican Yea
Thomas Albert Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PASSED ROLL CALL # 64 YEAS 36 NAYS 0 EXCUSED 1 NOT VOTING 0

Passed 36 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 17001
Democrat 19000
Total 36001
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (37)
Member Party Vote
Darrin Camilleri Democrat Yea
Dayna Polehanki Democrat Yea
Erika Geiss Democrat Yea
Jeff Irwin Democrat Yea
Jeremy Moss Democrat Yea
John Cherry Democrat Yea
Kevin Hertel Democrat Yea
Mallory McMorrow Democrat Yea
Mary Cavanagh Democrat Yea
Paul Wojno Democrat Yea
Rosemary Bayer Democrat Yea
Sam Singh Democrat Yea
Sarah Anthony Democrat Yea
Sean McCann Democrat Yea
Stephanie Chang Democrat Yea
Sue Shink Democrat Yea
Sylvia Santana Democrat Yea
Veronica Klinefelt Democrat Yea
Winnie Brinks Democrat Yea
Aric Nesbitt Republican Yea
Dan Lauwers Republican Yea
Edward McBroom Republican Not Voting
Jim Runestad Republican Yea
John Damoose Republican Yea
Jon Bumstead Republican Yea
Jonathan Lindsey Republican Yea
Joseph Bellino Jr. Republican Yea
Kevin Daley Republican Yea
Lana Theis Republican Yea
Mark Huizenga Republican Yea
Michael Webber Republican Yea
Michele Hoitenga Republican Yea
Rick Outman Republican Yea
Roger Hauck Republican Yea
Roger Victory Republican Yea
Ruth Johnson Republican Yea
Thomas Albert Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 144 do?
Health occupations: physical therapists; prescription requirement for physical therapy treatment; eliminate, and make other modifications to the practice of physical therapy. Amends secs. 17801, 17820, 17822, 17824 & 17825 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.17801 et seq.) & adds sec. 17825a.
Who sponsors SB 144?
SB 144 is sponsored by Sylvia Santana (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 144?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced June 24, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 144?
Track SB 144 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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