Skip to content

Bills · 2023-2024 Regular Session

SB 143

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: the use of certain words and terms that refer to a physician.

Physician Physician assistant

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Senate, not reached
  3. Passes Assembly, not reached
  4. Governor signs, not reached
  5. Law, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill restricts the words and terms that may be used to designate certain

medical professionals in titles, advertising, and descriptions of services. Under

current law, no person may use or assume the title “doctor of medicine” or append to

the person's name the letters “M.D.” unless the person possesses the degree of doctor

of medicine or the person is licensed as a physician by the Medical Examining Board.

Similarly, only individuals who possess the degree of doctor of osteopathy may use

or assume the title “doctor of osteopathy” or append “D.O.” to their name.

This bill restricts persons, except licensed physicians, from using certain

words, terms, letters, or abbreviations that represent a person as a physician. Those

restrictions under the bill apply to a person's title, advertising, or description of

services, and the bill provides an extensive but not exclusive list of the words and

terms covered by the bill.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Cabral-Guevara (R) , Roys (D) , Wanggaard (R)

4 cosponsors

Dittrich (R) , Magnafici (R) , Murphy (R) , Rozar (R)

Votes

Senate: Report passage by Committee on Health, Ayes 2, Noes 4

Failed 2–4 Oct 6, 2023 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Full history

  1. Mar 23, 2023 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Cabral-Guevara, Roys and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Magnafici, Dittrich, Murphy and Rozar

  2. Mar 23, 2023 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Health

  3. May 22, 2023 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Cabral-Guevara

  4. May 24, 2023 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  5. Oct 4, 2023 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  6. Oct 6, 2023 · Senate

    Report passage by Committee on Health, Ayes 2, Noes 4

  7. Oct 6, 2023 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  8. Apr 15, 2024 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1