Bill Name: Senate Bill 979 (SB 979) 

Primary Sponsor: Sen. Nick Schroer

Status: 03/03/2026 Hearing Conducted S Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee

AmSpa’s Take: Allowing nurse practitioners and other APRNs to practice to the level of their education and skill, without the need to maintain cumbersome chart review and meeting requirements, frees up time and resources that can be better spent seeing patients, improving their skills and developing their practices. Independence also allows these practitioners to innovate in new practice areas through owning their own practices. 

Analysis: Currently, Missouri advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), including nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives, practice in collaboration with physicians. This collaborating physician oversees the medical tasks that the APRN may perform. The relationship is formalized using a collaborative practice agreement which lays out what services are authorized. Under SB 979, APRNs would no longer need a physician to oversee their practice once certain conditions are met. 

Initially, APRNs would still practice pursuant to written collaborative practice agreement with a physician. However, once the APRN completed 2,000 hours of documented practice they would no longer be required to enter in or maintain a collaborative arrangement. Out of state APRNs would be able to count hours of practice in their original state when applying for a Missouri license. Certified registered nurse anesthetists are excluded from these provisions and would continue to practice as they currently do.

The majority of states allow nurse practitioners to practice independently. Most states have begun to provide reduced oversight or more flexibility, but may still retain the physician oversight. SB 979 would solidly go along with this trend in providing a path to independence for APRNs. Do note that last session an identical bill SB 144 failed to pass. If you would like additional information, to read the language of the bill or to contact the sponsors or committee, you can find the information you need here: SB 979.