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HB 2555

Medical Occupations - As introduced, reduces from 45 to 35 days, the amount of time the board of physician assistants has to either render a decision on a licensure application submitted by an individual licensed, registered, or certified as a physician assistant in another jurisdiction or inform the licensure applicant from another jurisdiction of the need to appear before the board. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 24; Title 33; Title 38; Title 49; Title 53; Title 55; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68; Title 71 and Chapter 1042 of the Public Acts of 2024.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by William Lamberth

Tennessee reduces physician assistant out-of-state licensure review period from 45 to 35 days, potentially speeding workforce access while raising questions about review thoroughness.

Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/18/2026
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Bill Summary · HB 2555

Legislative bill overview

HB 2555 accelerates Tennessee's physician assistant licensure timeline for out-of-state applicants by reducing the decision deadline from 45 to 35 days. The bill also amends multiple Tennessee statutes across various titles, suggesting broader regulatory streamlining across medical occupations and potentially other regulatory boards.

Why is this important

Faster licensure decisions can reduce barriers to healthcare workforce mobility and address physician assistant shortages in Tennessee. However, the sweeping amendments across 12 different statutory titles indicate this may be part of a larger deregulation or bureaucratic efficiency initiative whose full scope requires examining the other amended provisions.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation feasibility: Reducing processing time by 22% may strain the board's administrative capacity unless resources are simultaneously increased, potentially leading to incomplete reviews or legal vulnerabilities
  • Reciprocity standards: Faster approval could inadvertently lower scrutiny of out-of-state credentials, raising questions about whether Tennessee's public safety standards remain adequately protective
  • Scope uncertainty: The extensive amendments across 12 statutory titles raise concerns about whether legislators fully understand all downstream effects, or if this is part of a broader deregulation agenda not fully disclosed in the bill's summary

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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