Legislative Landscape: 2026 Session Wrap-up

2026 Session Wrap-up

The 2026 legislative session has officially wrapped! While your state legislators are looking forward to taking some time off, the Copic Public Affairs team is assessing the implications of what legislation passed within our space.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE “OFF-SEASON”?

While legislators may not be “in the building” in the coming months, conversations continue in the off season on shaping legislation. Some states (like Utah) meet heavily in interim committees, while governors’ offices, state agencies, and other stakeholders start to consider ideas of what legislation they would like to see next year. This is a critical time for identifying key issues and hosting legislative education opportunities, and we have some plans for the rest of this year.

However, as we look back and assess what passed this year, we have identified some common themes for 2026. The following trends occurred across our regional footprint.

Artificial Intelligence

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare settings was a heavily debated topic this year. Legislation focused on the use of AI in prior authorization passed in two different states across our core markets this year (Nebraska passed Legislative Bill 77 last year, which addresses the topic). Other questions were raised regarding how to deploy AI while also protecting patients. These bills aimed to allow for the use of AI, while mandating that the technology does not make clinical decisions and oversight by a healthcare professional.

• Colorado Senate Bill 189—Use of Automated Decision-Making Technology in Consequential Decision-Making
• Colorado House Bill 1139—Use of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (pending governor’s signature into law)
• Colorado House Bill 1195—Psychotherapy Artificial Intelligence Restrictions (pending governor’s signature into law)
• Iowa House File 2635—AI in Utilization Review (This new law is the result of the efforts of our partners at the Iowa Medical Society.)

Did you know? One trending topic that surfaced across many states this year was the regulation of medical-aesthetic spas. The American Medical Association highlighted this in an article stating that 36 states lack any regulatory oversight ¹ of these practices. This issue extends into other conversations related to medical professional oversight depending on the services being provided, corporate ownership, practice and business compliance, and required consumer protections. The Copic Public Affairs team will continue to track bills introduced, and proactively engage in these conversations across our states.

Licensure and Compacts

Prompted by the implementation of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, rural healthcare access was another hot topic of the 2026 session. We saw bills introduced that sought to expand rural healthcare access by exploring new licensure pathways and compacts. Other efforts were made to streamline the licensure renewal process for current physicians to reduce administrative burden.

• Nebraska Legislative Bill 1212—Licensure of Internationally Trained Physicians Under the Uniform Credentialing Act
• Iowa Senate File 2184—Licenses to Practice Medicine and Surgery or Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery
• South Dakota House Bill 1146—Adopt the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact
• North Dakota House Bill 1622—Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, Requirements and Effective Date
• Nebraska Legislative Bill 912—Eliminate Physician Liability for Negligence of Physician Assistants (This was a statutory change advocated for by the physician assistants.)
• Utah Senate Bill 31—Office of Professional Licensure Amendments (This bill contains a package of licensure changes but notably reduces the number of hours that a physician assistant is required to practice under a physician collaborative agreement before the PA can practice independently: from 10,000 to 8,500 hours.)

Medical Cannabis

We tracked developments related to medical cannabis use in healthcare facilities and regulatory updates. The Nebraska Legislature continued debate from last year on how to regulate medical cannabis. The Legislature passed Legislative Bill 1235, which provides the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission with funding for commission member salaries, rulemaking authority to set fees, and other structural guidance. The bill did not contain guidance for healthcare providers to provide patient referrals or a list of qualified conditions for medical cannabis.

• Nebraska Legislative Bill 933—Provide Immunity for Healthcare Practitioners under the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act (Did not pass)
• Colorado Senate Bill 7—Concerning the Use of Medical Marijuana by Terminally Ill Patients in Heath Facilities
• South Dakota House Bill 1053—Require Terminal Care Facilities to Allow Terminally Ill Patients to Use Medical Cannabis (Did not pass)

Healthcare Decisions

Unsurprisingly, legislation related to clinical decision making, guardianship, and consent for care was introduced in many states this year. The following bills were signed into law.

• Iowa Senate File 304—Provides an Exception to a Minor’s Legal Capacity to Consent to the Provision of Medical Care or Services for a Sexually Transmitted Disease or Infection
• Iowa House File 2564—Pregnant Minor’s Legal Capacity to Consent to the Provision of Certain Medical Care
• Minnesota House File 4760—Persons Detained in Jails Provided Medications (This bill, which was part of the Public Safety Omnibus package this year, is a response to legislation passed last year that mandated continued medication for incarcerated individuals.)

As we pivot to the interim months in an election year, we are planning to connect with current and future legislators to discuss these topics and more.

Visit Copic’s Healthcare Advocacy page at www.uat.copic.com/healthcare-advocacy for more information on bills we tracked during the legislative session, to sign up for newsletter updates, or to find your elected officials. If you have any questions, please contact Copic’s Director of Public Affairs, Sarah Meirose, at sm******@***ic.com.

Article originally published in Copic’s Copiscope 2Q26 newsletter.