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Board to schedule informational session on animal physical therapy after member and stakeholder questions
Summary
Members discussed AB 1458 (animal physical therapy) and staff recommended a December informational session to gather comparative models and stakeholder input; the bill is currently held over to the 2026 session.
Board members and staff discussed proposed legislation to allow licensed physical therapists to provide animal rehabilitation services under supervision or referral from a veterinarian and agreed to schedule an informational session at the December board meeting.
At the meeting the board heard that the bill currently known in materials as AB 1458 would let licensed physical therapists with appropriate training provide animal rehabilitation services under a veterinarian’s supervision or referral. Legislative staff reported the bill had been postponed in committee and could be reconsidered in the 2026 session.
CPTA representative Dr. James Sims and public commenter Karen Atlas (Animal Physical Therapy Coalition) urged the board to consider the federation (FSBPT) model language and to coordinate with veterinarians. Karen Atlas said she participated on a federation task force that has drafted model practice language and asked the board to review that product and to treat the proposal as a collaborative model with veterinary oversight.
Why it matters: the legislation would create a new regulated activity that overlaps with veterinary practice; the board must weigh scope‑of‑practice, public safety and interagency coordination. Staff recommended the board host an informational symposium at the December meeting in Sacramento so members could hear model language, veterinarians’ perspectives and comparative approaches from other states.
Next steps: staff will invite stakeholders—including the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, veterinary representatives and advocates—to present at a December informational session so the board can gather evidence and draft a potential position. No formal board position was taken at the September meeting.
