Bill
HB 3683
Extends Illinois Physical Therapy Act sunset to Jan 1, 2031, preserving licensure rules while modernizing practice scope (including dry needling) and board functions.
Status and sponsors
- Bill number: HB 3683 (Rep. Bob Morgan, chief cosponsor Rep. Jawaharial Williams)
- Introduced: Feb 18 / Filed: Mar 4, 2025
- Current status: Rule 19(a) — Re‑referred to Rules Committee (Apr 11, 2025)
- Committee actions: Health Care Licenses Committee — Do Pass as Amended (14‑0); House Committee Amendment No. 1 adopted by voice vote (Mar 19, 2025)
- Companion bill: SB 895
Purpose
- Extend the regulatory life of the Illinois Physical Therapy Act and modernize/clarify statutory provisions governing the practice, licensure, regulation, and discipline of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in Illinois.
Key provisions and changes
- Sunset extension: Moves the repeal date for the Illinois Physical Therapy Act from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2031 (amendment to the Regulatory Sunset Act). The sunset change provision is effective immediately.
- Terminology/administration: Replaces multiple references to the “Director” with “Secretary” and updates duties, powers, and organizational references to reflect current Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) structure.
- Scope of practice: Revises the statutory definition of “physical therapy” to clarify services included (evaluation, treatment planning, therapeutic modalities, therapeutic exercise, mobilization, dry needling in accordance with Section 1.5, topical medication administration under specified circumstances, supervision/teaching, prevention, wellness, etc.).
- Dry needling: Explicitly included in the list of allowable physical therapy interventions with cross‑reference to Section 1.5 (and small technical amendment in House Amendment No. 1 adjusting related wording).
- Licensure and practice administration: Updates provisions covering qualifications for licensure, applications, examinations, restoration of expired licenses, inactive licenses, fees, return checks, and temporary license/suspension processes.
- Board and department functions: Amends duties, investigative/disciplinary procedures, confidentiality rules, hearings, and temporary suspension authority for the Physical Therapy Licensing and Disciplinary Board and IDFPR.
- Contact records: Adds provisions requiring/recognizing an applicant’s or licensee’s “address of record” and “email address of record” for official communications.
- New/renumbered sections: Adds Sections 1.1 and 25.5 and revises many other sections (see bill for full list).
Who is affected
- Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed or seeking licensure in Illinois; patients receiving physical therapy services; educational and clinical training programs; employers and health care facilities; IDFPR and the Physical Therapy Licensing and Disciplinary Board.
Procedural/timeline notes
- The bill passed out of the Health Care Licenses Committee (with amendment) and was placed on the House calendar. It was re‑referred to the Rules Committee under Rule 19(a) on Apr 11, 2025. If enacted, the Regulatory Sunset Act change takes effect immediately (preserving the Physical Therapy Act until Jan 1, 2031). Other amendments become effective per standard statutory effective‑date rules unless otherwise specified.
Note
- This is a summary of primary changes. The bill contains numerous textual edits across many sections; readers should consult the full engrossed bill for precise statutory language and regulatory impacts.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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