Committee adopts substitute on HB 276 to let nonphysician clinicians sign K–12 sports physicals
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Summary
The committee approved a substitute to HB 276 that allows certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants acting under existing supervision rules to sign K–12 athletic physical forms and requires boards to update forms by 07/01/2026. A doctor and members discussed supervision and access.
A House committee on July 1 adopted a substitute to HB 276 that lets certain nonphysician clinicians sign K–12 athletic physical forms when they are working within existing supervision and collaborative-practice arrangements.
Representative Oliver offered the intercommittee substitute, calling HB 276 a "clarifying bill" and saying, "It's not an expansion of practice." The substitute specifies that certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs) and licensed physician assistants (PAs) may sign athletic physical forms "when acting within existing authority and supervision requirements," and it deems those endorsements equivalent to a physician's signature for school athletic participation. The measure also prohibits athletic associations, clubs or leagues from refusing properly endorsed forms and requires the Board of Nursing and the Board of Medical Examiners to update protocols and forms by July 1, 2026.
Doctor Ben Barlow, chief medical officer for American Family Care and representing the Southeastern Regional Urgent Care Association (SURUCA), testified in support. Barlow said many urgent-care clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners and that allowing those clinicians to sign sports physicals would expand access and convenience for families. "We believe it's in the nurse practitioner's scope of practice to do that," he said, adding his system sees "a little over 1,000,000 patients a year" across about 48 clinics.
Representative Hall asked whether the substitute would permit clinicians to operate independently. Representative Oliver and proponents replied the change does not create standalone authority; the substitute relies on existing collaborative practice and supervision arrangements, and the ultimate responsibility remains with the physician supervising care.
The committee put the substitute on the table on a motion and, after a voice vote, the chair declared the bill passed with a favorable report "as substituted." The transcript records the voice vote and the chair's announcement but does not include a roll-call tally of yes and no votes.
The committee did not record any amendments to the substitute in the advertised transcript. The bill now advances with the committee's favorable report and the requirement that the Board of Nursing and the Board of Medical Examiners revise relevant forms and protocols by the July 1, 2026 deadline noted in the substitute.
The hearing also included a separate procedural motion earlier in the meeting when Representative Rigsby moved to carry over another bill pending more work after a prior public hearing; that carryover motion was made but no vote tally was recorded in the provided transcript. The committee adjourned after completing the short agenda.
