Eighteen states now ban or effectively void physician noncompetes, and three of them acted in 2026: Maine, Utah and Virginia. Washington will join them June 30, 2027, when it voids all noncompetes.
Another 10 states and Washington, D.C., significantly restrict them, five impose lighter limits, and 17 leave enforcement to courts under a reasonableness test, according to a Tucker Arensberg guide and state law firm alerts. There is no federal ban; the Federal Trade Commission’s 2024 rule never took effect.
New in 2026
Maine: Bans noncompetes for healthcare practitioners without an ownership stake in agreements made or renewed on or after July 13.
Utah: Bans healthcare worker noncompetes, including for physicians, in agreements made on or after May 6.
Virginia: Bars noncompetes in new agreements with healthcare professionals licensed by the boards of Medicine, Nursing, Counseling, Optometry, Psychology and Social Work as of July 1.
Washington: Voids all noncompetes, including existing ones, starting June 30, 2027. Until then, an income threshold of $126,858.83 applies.
Iowa: Requires University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to drop noncompetes for physicians and other clinicians as of July 1.
Montana: Its 2025 ban on physician noncompetes and nonsolicits took effect Jan. 1.
States that ban physician noncompetes (18)
Alabama: Generally unenforceable for professionals, including physicians.
Arkansas: Void for physicians, 2025.
California: Employee noncompetes void.
Colorado: Banned for physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, dentists and certified midwives, Aug. 6, 2025.
Maine: Banned for non-owner practitioners, July 13, 2026
Massachusetts: Unenforceable for physicians.
Minnesota: Most employee noncompetes banned, July 1, 2023.
Montana: Noncompetes and nonsolicits banned, Jan. 1, 2026.
New Hampshire: Banned for physicians.
New Mexico: Banned for covered practitioners.
North Dakota: Broad ban.
Oklahoma: Employee noncompetes banned.
Oregon: Void for physicians, nurse practitioners and physician associates, with ownership exceptions, June 9, 2025.
Rhode Island: Banned.
South Dakota: Banned for physicians, July 1, 2023.
Utah: Banned for healthcare workers, May 6, 2026.
Virginia: Banned for licensed healthcare professionals, July 1, 2026.
Wyoming: Void for physicians, July 1, 2025.
States that significantly restrict them (10 + D.C.)
Connecticut: One year, 15 miles.
Delaware: Cannot bar practice in an area; damages allowed.
Washington D.C.: Income thresholds, higher for specialists.
Indiana: None for primary care physicians; hospitals barred from physician noncompetes, with nonsolicits capped at one year, as of July 1, 2025.
Louisiana: Limited to named parishes; three years for primary care physicians, five for other specialties, as of Jan. 1, 2025.
Maryland: Banned for direct-care providers earning $350,000 or less; one year and 10 miles above that.
Pennsylvania: One year maximum; unenforceable if the practitioner is dismissed, as of Jan. 1, 2025.
Tennessee: Two years with geographic limits; buyouts allowed.
Texas: One year, five miles, buyout capped at annual pay; void after discharge without good cause, as of Sept. 1, 2025.
Washington: Income threshold until the full ban takes effect June 30, 2027.
West Virginia: One year, 30 road miles; void if the employer terminates.
Lighter limits (5): Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada and Wisconsin.
Reasonableness test, no physician-specific law (17): Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Vermont. Physician noncompete bills have been introduced in North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina.
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