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SF 2190 Iowa Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act relating to the use of the titles physician assistant and physician associate.

SF 2190 changes Iowa's official title for licensed healthcare providers from "physician assistant" to "physician associate" throughout state law and administrative documents. It requires all references in the Iowa Code, regulations, and agency forms to be updated to "physician associate" by January 1, 2027, while keeping the terms synonymous with no changes to practice rights or scope. During a transition period, providers may use either title, and entities like hospitals, insurers, and government agencies cannot alter contracts or employment due to the title change. This bill is purely procedural, affecting only the terminology used in official records without altering existing laws governing physician assistants' roles.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Signed Apr 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Enrolled with Governor's Action · 4 edits · Apr 9, 2026
MODERATE
This bill formally changes the official title of the healthcare profession from 'physician assistant' to 'physician associate' in Iowa law. It ensures that all existing rights, responsibilities, and employment relationships remain exactly the same despite the name change, while requiring state agencies to update their codes and forms to reflect the new terminology by January 1, 2027.
Scope change
The scope of the profession and its legal authority remains unchanged; the bill is a terminology update only.
DEFINITION

The official title of the licensed profession is changed from 'physician assistant' to 'physician associate', though both terms are now legally synonymous.

TIMELINE

A deadline is set for state agencies to update administrative rules, guidance documents, and forms to use the new title by January 1, 2027.

REQUIREMENT

A non-discrimination clause is added to prevent employers or third parties from treating individuals differently solely because they use the new title.

TECHNICAL

The bill text was reformatted from a line-by-line legislative markup style to a standard, readable document format.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

37–7
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 49
Mar 3, 2026
D Democratic15
12 Yea 1 Nay 2
80% Yea
R Republican34
25 Yea 6 Nay 3
73% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
4
Committee
1
Apr 9, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 90, nays 0.
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 37, nays 7.
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee report, approving bill.
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.