Michigan The House and Senate passed companion bills last week that would allow licensed schools to operate an offsite “secondary school facility” to teach cosmetology in a classroom setting if specified requirements are met. The House passed HB 5403 unanimously and the Senate voted 34 to 2 to pass SB 703. Both bills have been crossed to the opposite legislative chamber for a necessary final passage vote.
The House voted 105 to 3 last week to pass a bill that would reduce the required course of instruction at a licensed barber college or as a barber apprentice from not less than 1,800 hours to not less than 1,500 hours. HB 5786 has been transmitted to the Senate.
Finally, Governor Grechen Whitmer (D) signed HB 5683 and HB 5684 into law on December 3rd. As previously reported, HB 5684 would allow cosmetologists and estheticians to perform: exfoliation (limited to the stratum corneum) using a product, chemical, mechanical device, electrical service, or class 1 medical device; dermaplaning or microdermabrasion; high-frequency treatments with documented training; eyebrow and eyelash services, facial cupping, and; non-medical grade hydodermabrasion with proper training. HB 5683 is a tie-barred bill that would amend the Public Health Code to prohibit a licensee, registrant, or other individual from performing a medical exfoliation procedure - below the stratum corneum by dermaplaning or microdermabrasion – unless the procedure was performed under the supervision of a licensed physician.
The bills will become effective 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature (mid to late March 2025).
New Jersey The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee unanimously reported a committee substitute to S2245 last week. As introduced, the measure would permit a cosmetology and hairstyling student with at least 60 hours of course instruction in cosmetology and hairstyling to receive a student permit to shampoo hair. The committee substitute would also allow other individuals to shampoo and rinse hair after completing 60 hours of training at a licensed school or at a licensed shop “for a reasonable fee.” The bill is currently eligible for consideration on the Senate floor. The Senate Commerce Committee favorably reported S3227 last week with amendments. The bill would establish “limited cosmetic retail service licenses” to allow licensed estheticians to perform specified services in a retail environment. “At present, a cosmetics retailer is prohibited from offering any paid services unless it separates from the floor space of a retail facility at least 350 square feet of space for two customer chairs and an additional 50 square feet of space for each additional chair. These are the same requirements for full service salons. Under the bill, a cosmetic retail service establishment will be allowed to consider the entire square footage of the store for the purpose of licensure and will be allowed one chair for every 750 square feet of retail space.” According to the official Committee statement, “the beauty and cosmetics industry employs a large number of New Jersey residents and is critical to the success of retail facilities within the State, such as shopping malls and retail centers. This bill will create new jobs for persons already licensed as skincare specialists, allow those graduating from an approved cosmetology school to have more options for employment, and grow the retail-based economy of New Jersey.” S3227 was subsequently referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. | 
