Florida HB 169: Acupuncture

Bill Text

HB 169 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb169-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to acupuncture; amending s. 457.102, 2
F.S.; revising and providing definitions; amending s. 3
457.105, F.S.; revising licensure requirements; 4
providing applicability; amending ss. 457.107 and 5
457.116, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made 6
by the act; amending s. 457.1085, F.S.; removing 7
obsolete provisions; providing an effective date. 8
9
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 10
11
Section 1. Section 457.102, Florida Statutes, is amended 12
to read: 13
457.102 Definitions.—As used in this chapter: 14
(1) "Acupuncture" means a form of primary health care, 15
based on traditional Chinese medical concepts and modern eastern 16
oriental medical techniques, that employs acupuncture diagnosis 17
and treatment, as well as adjunctive therapies and diagnostic 18
techniques, for the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of 19
health and the prevention of disease. Acupuncture includes shall 20
include, but is not be limited to, the insertion of acupuncture 21
needles and the application of moxibustion to specific areas of 22
the human body and the use of electroacupuncture, Qi Gong, 23
eastern oriental massage, herbal therapy, dietary guidelines, 24
and other adjunctive therapies, as defined by board rule. 25

HB 169 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb169-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(2) "Acupuncturist" means any person licensed under as 26
provided in this chapter to practice acupuncture as a primary 27
health care provider. 28
(3) "Board" means the Board of Acupuncture. 29
(4)(5) "Department" means the Department of Health. 30
(5) "Direct supervision" means the immediate onsite 31
supervision of other Florida licensees where the acupuncturist 32
individually or collectively assumes legal liability for the 33
supervised actions. 34
(6) "Eastern Oriental medicine" means a practice that 35
employs assessment, health history, physical examination, the 36
use of acupuncture diagnosis and diagnostic techniques, the use 37
of acupuncture, electroacupuncture, Qi Gong, eastern oriental 38
massage, herbal therapy, dietary guidelines, acupoint injection, 39
and other adjunctive therapies. 40
(7)(4) "License" means the document of authorization 41
issued by the department for a person to engage in the practice 42
of acupuncture. 43
(8) "Practice of acupuncture" means to provide services 44
that apply traditional Chinese medical concepts, anatomy and 45
physiology, and modern eastern medical techniques using 46
acupuncture and eastern medicine, and the exercise of 47
prescriptive rights as provided under subsection (9) to identify 48
and evaluate and manage abnormal conditions, for the promotion, 49
maintenance, and restoration of health. The practice of 50

HB 169 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb169-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

acupuncture includes stimulation of points, areas of the body, 51
and tissues using needles and devices. 52
(9)(7) "Prescriptive rights" means the prescription, 53
administration, and use of needles and devices, restricted 54
devices, and prescription devices, and the recommendation for or 55
ordering of, or administration of herbs, homeopathics, and other 56
nutritional supplements in sterile form that are used in the 57
practice of acupuncture and eastern oriental medicine unless 58
otherwise prohibited by state or federal law or regulation. For 59
the purposes of this subsection, "herbs, homeopathics, and other 60
nutritional supplements in sterile form" includes vitamins, 61
minerals, lipids, sugars, carbohydrates, and amino acids. The 62
term does not include ophthalmic or oral inhalation drugs in 63
aqueous format, corticosteroids, antibiotics, vaccinations, 64
botulinum toxin, controlled substances as defined in s. 893.02, 65
medicinal drugs as defined in s. 465.003, or other medications 66
not used for the practice of acupuncture. 67
Section 2. Paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (2) 68
of section 457.105, Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraph 69
(e) is added to that subsection, to read: 70
457.105 Licensure qualifications and fees.— 71
(2) A person may become licensed to practice acupuncture 72
if the person applies to the department and meets all of the 73
following criteria: 74
(b) Has completed 60 college credits from an accredited 75

HB 169 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

postsecondary institution as a prerequisite to enrollment in an 76
authorized 3-year course of study in acupuncture and oriental 77
medicine, and has completed a 3-year cours