AB-1703 Osteopathic physicians and surgeons: unauthorized practice: unauthorized use of titles

What happened

The August 27 enrolled AB 1703 would exclude osteopathic manipulative treatment from the disclosure-based exception to unauthorized medical practice beginning January 1, 2028. It defines the treatment as therapeutic manually guided forces used to relieve somatic dysfunction. The proposal retains the other excluded services in that exception, such as surgery, radiation and prescribing drugs. No new restriction under this bill was operative at the September 5 cutoff.

The manipulation provision expressly preserves practice of a California-licensed health profession and massage services authorized by California law. A separate proposed provision would restrict specified osteopathic titles and misleading descriptions by people not licensed by the Osteopathic Medical Board, with misdemeanor consequences and the same January 2028 timing. Those boundaries prevent treating the proposal as a blanket prohibition on manual therapy. Credential checks and service descriptions would need to match the actual professional scope and final enactment.

Why it matters

Manual-therapy contracting and marketing may require review if enacted, while existing lawful practice remains distinct.

Sources

• AB-1703 Osteopathic physicians and surgeons: unauthorized practice: unauthorized use of titles, bill historyOfficial · California Legislature · 2026-08-31 · Source review 2026-09-10
• AB-1703 Osteopathic physicians and surgeons: unauthorized practice: unauthorized use of titles, current bill text (08/27/26 - Enrolled)Official · California Legislature · 2026-08-27 · Source review 2026-09-10