The bill amends Section 887.17 of the Physical Therapy Practice Act to clarify the conditions under which licensed physical therapists can evaluate and treat patients without a referral. It specifies that physical therapists, including those operating under direct-to-employer contracts, may provide treatment for up to thirty days without a referral, except in cases of workers' compensation claims. The bill also updates the language regarding referrals, allowing for referrals from doctors of dentistry, chiropractic, podiatry, and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, while ensuring that these referrals are limited to their respective areas of training and practice.

Additionally, the bill allows physical therapists to provide services to children under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act and the Rehabilitation Act without a physician referral, treating a plan of care as a prescription for these services. It maintains that physical therapists can perform screenings and educational procedures without a referral and engage in fitness, wellness, or prevention services unrelated to injury treatment. The bill also clarifies that it does not authorize physical therapists or assistants to practice any other branch of healing arts and outlines provisions for students in approved physical therapy programs. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.