HB 159 Louisiana House · 2025 Regular Session

PHYSICAL THERAPISTS: Provides relative to the supervision of physical therapist assistants

HB 159 adjusts supervision rules for physical therapists by increasing the maximum number of physical therapist assistants they can supervise from five to six individuals at one time. It also requires physical therapists to conduct a formal review of supervised personnel every sixth treatment day or every thirty days, whichever occurs first. The bill directly affects physical therapists and their assistants in clinical settings by modifying staffing ratios and oversight frequency. This is a procedural change to existing practice standards, not a new program or benefit.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Mar 31, 2025 Signed Jun 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB159 Original → HB159 Act 65 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the rules for how physical therapists supervise physical therapist assistants in Louisiana. The most significant change is increasing the maximum number of assistants a therapist can supervise from eight to twelve. The bill also adjusts the frequency of required patient reassessments and removes the requirement for therapists to write discharge summaries.

Scope change

The bill applies to all physical therapists and physical therapist assistants practicing in Louisiana under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

REQUIREMENT

Increased the maximum number of physical therapist assistants a single therapist can supervise from eight to twelve, while keeping the limit on unlicensed supportive personnel at five.

Changed the requirement for patient reassessments from occurring every sixth treatment day or every thirty days to occurring at least every thirty days or at the final treatment session.

Eliminated the requirement for supervising physical therapists to write a discharge summary for patients.

Updated the bill title and sponsor list to include additional senators, reflecting expanded legislative support.

Floor votes · Senate May 28, 2025 · House Apr 24, 2025

How they voted

34–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 37

May 28, 2025

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican26

23 Yea 3

88% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

May 19, 2025

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

May 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 89, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (14-0).

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

lower

1 primary · 10 co-sponsors