Bills › 91st General Assembly
Creating an emeritus license to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery
Sponsored by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Topics:Health careProfessional licensing
Same legislation: SSB 1121
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 13, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 13, 2025
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 26, 2025
- Done: Passes the SenateMarch 17, 202540–6
- Done: House committeeApril 1, 2025
- Done: Passes the HouseMay 2, 202658–27
- Done: To the GovernorMay 11, 2026
- Done: Signed into lawJune 2, 2026
Signed into law What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Doctors who are at least 60 years old and focus on teaching new resident physicians can apply for a special emeritus license. This license lets them keep their same medical practice rights without needing to complete continuing education credits. The license lasts for three years, can be renewed once, and costs half as much as a standard medical license.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to the issuance of an emeritus license to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery. The bill requires the board of medicine (board) to issue an emeritus license to a physician and surgeon or osteopathic physician and surgeon who is at least 60 years of age, who is or will be primarily engaged in the practice of supervising and training resident physicians, and who submits an application on a form prescribed by the board. An emeritus license issued pursuant to the bill entitles the licensee to maintain the same scope of practice as the licensee had as a physician and surgeon or osteopathic physician and surgeon, does not require continuing education credits, is valid for a term of three years, and may be renewed once. The bill sets the application and renewal fees for an emeritus license at one half of the cost for a license to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery. The bill requires the board to adopt rules for the implementation of the bill, including a rule that defines “primarily engaged in the practice of supervising and training resident physicians”. The board shall not issue a license pursuant to the bill prior to January 1, 2026.
Why it matters. Physicians and osteopathic physicians who are at least 65 years old and primarily supervise or train resident physicians can apply for an emeritus license. This license allows them to keep their same scope of practice without needing continuing education credits for a three-year term. The application and renewal fees for this license will be half the cost of a standard medical license.2
House subcommittee
Named April 22, 2025. On April 24, 2025 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
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91st General Assembly