Treats temporary physicians and advanced care practitioners working under locum tenens contracts as independent contractors rather than employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the National Labor Relations Act.

Official title: RURAL Healthcare Act

Next stop House floor: awaiting a vote

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

House

Introduced 16-APR-2026

Referred 16-APR-2026

Approved by committee 21-JUL-2026

Key points

Covers physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse anesthetists who provide temporary services.
Applies only to service of up to one continuous year at a single site, under a written contract stating the individual will not be treated as an employee.
Applies whether or not the individual is filling in as a substitute for another provider.

AI-generated from the Introduced in House text of 16-APR-2026 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

No CRS summary yet. CRS writes one for most bills, often months after they move.

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Check on congress.gov

Committee referrals (1)

Policy area

Labor and Employment

Sponsor Burgess Owens (R-UT) Cosponsors · 1

■ 1 R

1 Republican

congress.gov page Introduced in House (16-APR-2026)