Representing the profession in Sacramento
CSOMA retains a lobbyist to promote and protect the practice of acupuncture and East Asian medicine in California. This page shows what we are working on now and where the association stands.
Current advocacy priority
Dry needling in California
What it is, who is licensed to do it, and where the law stands. Written for patients and practitioners alike — print it, hand it out, share it with your patients.
What it is
Dry needling is the insertion of filiform needles into muscle tissue. It is needling, and in California needling is the practice of acupuncture. Recent legislative efforts have sought to place it within the scope of other professions.
Where it stands
AB 2497 would have expanded physical therapist scope to include dry needling. Dry needling was removed by amendment at the Assembly Appropriations Committee hearing on 14 May 2026, and the bill was defeated on the Assembly floor on 28 May, receiving 25 of the 41 votes it needed.
What CSOMA is doing
CSOMA worked alongside the California Acupuncture Coalition and Townsend Public Affairs, and members testified, wrote letters and travelled to Sacramento. Efforts to expand scope into dry needling have resurfaced in past sessions, so the association continues to monitor.
What we are tracking
Bills and regulatory matters CSOMA is following in the 2025–26 legislative session.
AB 1949
Allows up to 24 acupuncture visits a year for Medi-Cal recipients, removing the restriction of two visits a month. Passed the Senate and referred to Senate Appropriations. Bill status
Active
SB 944
Protects acupuncture as a covered Medi-Cal benefit whether or not matching federal funds are available. Passed the Assembly and referred to Assembly Appropriations. Bill status
Active
Hand hygiene
The California Acupuncture Board has proposed aligning handwashing regulations with CDC standards, removing brush scrubbing and warm water requirements and permitting alcohol-based hand rubs of at least 60% alcohol. Written comments are due 28 September 2026. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PDF)
Comment open
AB 2497
Would have expanded physical therapist scope to include dry needling. Dry needling was removed by amendment on 14 May 2026, and the bill was defeated on the Assembly floor on 28 May.
Defeated
These describe where a bill stands, not whether the outcome helped the profession — that is in each description. Bills are added and updated as the session progresses. Members receive alerts by email when there is something to act on — subscribe to the newsletter.
Position statements
Where CSOMA stands on matters affecting the practice of acupuncture and East Asian medicine.
Patient safety, dry needling and acupuncture standards
Public statement from CSOMA
Dry needling in California
Joint position statement of the acupuncture profession
Acupuncture standards before the Physical Therapy Board
Testimony by CSOMA’s lobbyist
Preserving acupuncture in Medi-Cal
Letter to Governor Newsom
No Fees for EFTs Act
Federal legislation CSOMA supports
Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act
Federal legislation CSOMA supports
Downloads
Print these, hand them out, share them with patients and colleagues. All free to use.
Fact Sheet
Dry Needling in California
What dry needling is, who is licensed to perform it, and where the law stands. Written for patients and practitioners.
Download PDF →
Handout
Your First Acupuncture Visit
Does it hurt? How many sessions will I need? and other acupuncture FAQs answered plainly, for patients new to acupuncture.
Download PDF →
Handout
Refer an Acupuncturist
Written for medical professionals about acupuncture with room to include your clinic information.
Download PDF →
White paper
Acupuncture’s Role in Solving the Opioid Epidemic
Evidence, cost-effectiveness, and care availability for acupuncture as a primary, non-pharmacologic method for pain relief and management.
Download PDF →
Handout
Acupuncture: A Key Solution for Treating America’s Painkiller Epidemic
Infographic describing the benefits of trying acupuncture before opioids.
Download PDF →
Media
Congressional testimony on acupuncture, recorded 2017.
▶ Congresswoman Judy Chu speaks up about acupuncture ▶ Dr. David Miller, LAc, at the Congressional Briefing on AcupunctureReference links
California law, the legislature, and how to find your representatives.
Action alerts
Alerts reach members by email, not by web page
When a bill needs member letters or testimony, timing matters. Alerts go out through CSOMA’s newsletter so they reach you while there is still time to act. The newsletter also carries bill updates, position statements, and the smaller advocacy news that does not warrant an alert.