House Passes APRN Scope of Practice Bill Despite MMA Opposition

April 30, 2026

On April 27, the House passed a bill, with a 119-12 vote, that removes the current requirement that newly licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) complete 2,080 hours of collaborative practice with a physician as part of their postgraduate training before practicing independently. 

The MMA strongly opposes the bill, (HF 1794, Virnig, DFL – Eagan), stating that the collaborative practice period provides structured clinical mentorship, supports patient safety, and helps integrate APRNs into physician-led, team-based care. The requirement is comparable to the supervised training physicians complete early in their careers, and is viewed as a critical component of safe transition to independent practice.  

Eliminating the requirement may not improve access to care, as there is limited evidence that scope of practice changes influence provider location decisions. Additionally, research suggests that care delivered outside of physician-led teams may be associated with increased utilization and higher costs without improved patient outcomes. 

The MMA sent an Action Alert urging legislators to oppose this proposal, citing concerns that it would weaken training standards and pose risks to patient care. 

The Senate Licensure and Scope of Practice Omnibus Bill does not currently include this provision.