SB169: SB169 Professions and Businesses; certain education and training requirements for the performance of dry needling; provide

25 LC 52 0748 Senate Bill 169 By: Senator Still of the 48th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, re lating to professions and1 businesses, so as to provide for certain education and training requirements for the2 performance of dry needling; to provide for applicability and exceptions; to require licensed3 physical therapists who perform dry needling to complete certai n education and training4 requirements; to revise definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective5 date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses,9 is amended in Chapter 1, relating to general provisions, by adding a new Code section to read10 as follows:11 "43-1-37.12 (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this Code section, after13 January 1, 2026, no licensed healthcare professional authorized to perform dry needling in14 this state shall perform dry needling unless such professional demonstrates to the15 S. B. 169 - 1 - 25 LC 52 0748 satisfaction of the Georgia Composite Medical Board the success ful completion of the16 following:17 (1) Coursework and training in the practice of dry needling totaling 1,365 hours, which18 shall include:19 (A) Instruction in medical theory, diagnosis, and treatment te chniques specific to20 acupuncture totaling 705 hours; and21 (B) Clinical training in dry needling, including clinical obse rvation and clinical22 internship, totaling 660 hours;23 (2) A nationally recognized clean needle technique course appr oved by the Georgia24 Composite Medical Board; and25 (3) A minimum of 500 dry needling treatments on at least 100 different patients during26 a 12 month period under the direct supervision of a licensed healthcare professional who27 has a minimum of four years of licensed clinical practice performing dry needling.28 (b) The requirements provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply to:29 (1) A licensed acupuncturist or a licensed physician who has s uccessfully completed30 requirements to perform dry needling as established by the Georgia Composite Medical31 Board; or32 (2) A licensed physical therapist who, prior to January 1, 2026, successfully completed33 requirements to perform dry needling as established by the Stat e Board of Physical34 Therapy.35 (c) The prohibition in subsection (a) of this Code section sha ll not prevent either of the36 following:37 (1) A student from performing dry needling while enrolled in an acupuncture education38 program and under the direct clinical supervision of a licensed acupuncturist; or39 (2) An individual from performing dry needling while completing requirements provided40 in subsection (a) of this Code section."41 S. B. 169 - 2 - 25 LC 52 0748 SECTION 2.42 Said title is further amended in Code Section 43-33-18, relating to refusal to grant or restore43 licenses, discipline of licensees, suspension, revocation, or r estriction of licenses, and44 immunity for violation reporters, by revising subparagraph (a)(2)(E) as follows:45 "(E) Performed dry needling treatment interventions without consulting an individual46 licensed pursuant to Article 2 or 4 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 this title and without47 complying with requirements provided for under Code Section 43-1-37."48 SECTION 3.49 Said title is further amended in Code Section 43-34-62, relatin g to definitions relevant to50 acupuncture, by revising paragraphs (1) and (4) as follows:51 "(1) 'Acupuncture' means a modality practiced on the basis of traditional Chinese medical52 principles and modern biomedical principles to stimulate underl ying neural, muscular,53 and connective tissues for preventive and therapeutic purposes a form of therapy54 developed from traditional and modern Oriental concepts for hea lth care that employs55 Oriental medical techniques, treatment, and adjunctive therapie s for the promotion,56 maintenance, and restoration of health and the prevention of disease."57 "(4) 'Practice of acupuncture' means the insertion of disposabl e acupuncture filiform58 needles into the human body at either acupuncture points which have been clearly59 mapped out over underlying bony landmarks and musculature or trigger points and the60 application of moxibustion to specific areas of the human body based upon Oriental61 medical principles as a therapeutic modality. Dry needling is a technique of the practice62 of acupuncture. Adjunctive therapies within the scope of acupu ncture may include63 manual, mechanical, moxibustion, herbal, thermal, electrical, and electromagnetic64 treatment and the recommendation of dietary guidelines and exer cise, but only if such65 treatments, recommendations, and exercises are based on concepts of traditional Oriental66 Chinese medicine and are directly related to acupuncture therapy."67 S. B. 169 - 3 - 25 LC 52 0748 SECTION 4.68 This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law69 without such approval.70 SECTION 5.71 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.72 S. B. 169 - 4 -