AB-1703 Osteopathic physicians and surgeons: unauthorized practice: unauthorized use of titles
Sep 20, 2026 edition · GC-2026-0065 · Published 2026-09-20 · Version 2 · Proposed
AB 1703 proposed narrowing the unlicensed-practice exception for osteopathic manipulation beginning January 2028.
What happened
AB 1703’s retained proposal would add osteopathic manipulative treatment to the services excluded from the disclosure-based exception to unauthorized medical practice, beginning January 1, 2028. It defines that treatment as manually guided therapeutic forces used to alleviate somatic dysfunction. The proposal retains the other specified exclusions for procedures such as surgery, radiation and prescribing drugs. As proposed legislation in September, it does not itself establish an immediate new practice restriction.
The proposed manipulation provision expressly preserves practice of a California-licensed health profession and massage services authorized by California law. A separate January 2028 provision would restrict use of “doctor of osteopathy,” “D.O.” and misleading “osteopath” descriptions by persons not licensed by the Osteopathic Medical Board, with a misdemeanor consequence. The licensed-practice and lawful-massage boundary means the measure cannot be read as prohibiting every form of manual therapy. Service descriptions, credentials and the actual professional scope would need review against any final enactment.
Scope and timing
- Authority status
- Proposed
- Applicability
- Potentially applicable
- Audience
- Health systems, Provider networks
- Jurisdiction
- California
Why it matters
Provider and vendor screening may need to connect service claims and titles to licensure while preserving lawful licensed and massage practice.
Recommended action
Monitor the final measure and assess manual-treatment services and marketing titles with licensing counsel before changing practice or contracting requirements.
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
Complete edition and supplemental material
This finding in the complete approved report →Regulatory horizons, CIA trends and implementation trackers remain in the full report.
Read the entire Compliance Sweep report →