Oppose AB2497
Tell California Legislators to Protect Patients
The most effective way to stop AB2497 is to contact members of the Assembly Health Committee, which will vote on the bill before it reaches the full Assembly floor.
Tips for Effective Contact
- →Phone calls are the most effective — constituent calls are tallied by legislative staff
- →Identify yourself as a California constituent and give your city or district
- →Keep it brief: state your opposition to AB2497 and one or two key reasons
- →Email is also effective, especially if you use your own words (not just the template)
- →Sharing on social media expands the reach of the message to other constituents
Contact Key Decision-Makers
Select a legislator to get their contact info and a pre-composed email.
Talking Points
- 1.AB2497 would allow physical therapists to insert acupuncture needles with as little as 25 hours of training — compared to the 2,000+ hours required of licensed acupuncturists.
- 2.Peer-reviewed research documents 20 major adverse events including collapsed lungs (pneumothorax), infections, and nerve injuries in a single study of 20,494 treatments.
- 3.California Business and Professions Code §4927 already defines needle insertion to stimulate points as acupuncture — AB2497 creates an unlicensed workaround to this law.
- 4.There is no national standardized certification, exam, or oversight board for dry needling. No state credentialing body would investigate complications.
- 5.California already has over 13,000 licensed acupuncturists who completed rigorous training. There is no patient access gap that requires a less-trained alternative.
Spread the Word
The Evidence Is Clear
Peer-reviewed research, professional organization statements, and documented cases all point to the same conclusion: performing needle insertion with 25 hours of training is not safe. California has the strongest acupuncture workforce in the country — and the strongest laws to protect patients. AB2497 would undermine both.