California Two Republican Assemblymembers introduced a bill last week that would allow licensed manicurists to be classified as independent contractors if they meet certain conditions such as setting their own rates and hours. Existing law made such an exemption for licensed manicurists inoperative on January 1, 2025. AB 504 has not yet been referred to a standing committee.
Hawaii The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee voted unanimously to eliminate licensure requirements for nail technicians. SB 1621 was initially introduced to eliminate the statutory hours – currently 350 hours at a beauty school – required for licensure as a nail technician and replace them with Board of Barbering and Cosmetology licensure requirement regulations.
The Committee report states “that requiring nail technicians to obtain a cosmetology license compels nail technicians to learn skills irrelevant to their profession. Accordingly, this measure removes expensive and time consuming barriers to promote job growth for individuals who would otherwise be deterred by onerous licensing requirements.”
Idaho Idaho’s House of Representatives voted 66 to 3 on Monday to pass a thermal styling deregulation bill. H120 deletes the current "retail thermal styling equipment dealer" definition and would allow “persons whose practice is limited to the demonstration of thermal styling equipment on customers in connection with the sale or attempted sale of thermal styling equipment” to do so without a license. The measure has been transmitted to the Senate and is awaiting assignment to a standing committee.
Illinois State Representative Omar Williams introduced an hour reduction bill earlier this month. HB 3854 would reduce the following courses of instruction: barbering (from 1,500 to 1,200 hours); barber teacher (from 500 to 400 hours or from 1,000 to 800 hours depending on years of experience); cosmetology (from 1,500 to 1,200 hours); cosmetology teacher (from 500 to 400 hours or from 1,000 to 800 hours depending on years of experience); esthetics (from 750 to 600 hours); esthetics teacher (from 500 to 400 hours or from 750 to 600 hours depending on years of experience); nail Technology (from 350 to 280 hours); nail technology teacher (from 500 to 400 hours or from 625 to 600 hours depending on years of experience); hair braiding (from 300 to 240 hours), and; hair braiding instructor (from 500 to 400 hours with two years of experience.
Several other bills of interest have also been introduced in the Land of Lincoln.
HB 2737, introduced by a State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (R), would expand online introduction to up to 50 percent of the program’s length and allow up to 10 percent of required hours to be completed in an internship program supervised by a licensed professional.
HB 3698 and SB 2495 would extend the sunset of the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act to January 1, 2031. The measures contain clarifying language stating that schools may need to submit enrollment agreements and curricula to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to ensure compliance.
Iowa Senator Jeff Reichman (R) introduced a bill that would allow school instructors to perform services for compensation at a school while not instructing students. SF 316 would also allow students to take a combined esthetics and nail technology course of study, and; prohibit the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences from approving a program of study that includes a course of study with substantially lower requirements than the requirements imposed by law or the board for a similar license. Additionally, it prohibits the Board from approving “a program of study that is substantially duplicative of an approved program currently operating in this state.” The measure has been referred to the Senate State Government Committee.
A House bill – HSB 142 – proposed by the House Education Committee would prohibit a community college from offering a barbering and cosmetology arts curriculum if a postsecondary barbering and cosmetology arts school is operating in same merged area. The official explanation states, “the bill provides that if a community college would otherwise be required to discontinue a program under the bill, the community college shall continue the program until all students enrolled in the program on or before the effective date of the bill have completed or left the program.”
Mississippi A technical amendment bill was unanimously passed by the Senate last week. SB 2525 updates language due to the 2024 creation of unified Board of Cosmetology and Barbering.
Nevada Assemblymember Duy Nguyen (D) introduced AB 225 earlier this month. The bill would reduce the course of instruction for barbering (from 1,500 to 1,000 hours), cosmetology (from 1,600 to 1,000 hours), hair design (from 1,000 to 600 hours), and expand apprenticeships. The measure would also deregulate blow-dry styling, hair braiding and shampoo technology. Additionally, it contains provisions allowing unlicensed individuals to cut hair under the immediate supervision of a barber, cosmetologist or hair designer if they disclose to the customer that they are not licensed.
The bill has been referred to the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee.
New Hampshire New Hampshire’s Senate passed an hour reduction bill last week by a voice vote. As initially introduced, SB 194 would reduce the course of instruction for cosmetology from 1,500 to 1,200 hours and add a regional career technical center seat to the Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics.
The Senate Executive Departments and Administration amended the bill to remove the additional Board seat before voting unanimously to report it to the Senate consent calendar. The bill is expected to cross over to the House next month.
Oklahoma A sunset extension bill was amended and favorably reported by the House Administrative Rules Committee on Monday. As currently drafted, HB 1030 would extend the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology’s authorization until July 1, 2028.
Pennsylvania A bill to authorize booth rentals in salons was recently introduced by Representative Zachary Mako (R). HB 644 has not yet been assigned to a standing committee.
Virginia HB 2669 received final legislative approval on Monday with a unanimous 39 to 0 Senate vote. As previously reported, the Board requested bill would amend the definition of “cosmetologist” and “cosmetology.” to prohibit straight razor shaving and certain advanced cosmetic treatments.
HB 1667 also received final legislative approval with a unanimous Senate vote and a subsequent unanimous House concurrence vote. The bill would allow minors 16 years of age or older to provide services in a licensed barbershop or salon if they are 1) an apprentice, 2) participating in a work-training program in accordance with relevant law, or (3) have obtained a cosmetology or barber license from the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology.
Additionally, a bill providing for the licensure of ear-piercing salons, ear-piercing schools, and ear-piercers by the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology received final legislative passage last week without a dissenting vote in either legislative chamber. SB 1419 distinguishes ear-piercing from body-piercing by definition and requires the Board to adopt training requirements.
Wyoming A barbering apprenticeship bill – HB 257 – is dead after failing to meet a crossover deadline. The bill received a unanimous 9 to 0 “do pass” recommendation by House Education Committee earlier this month by was not considered by the Committee of the Whole before the February 12, 2025, crossover deadline.
The Senate however voted 29 to 2 earlier this month to pass a hair braiding deregulation bill. SF 113 is currently in the House Labor Committee.
Cosmetology and Massage Therapy Licensure Compact Bills
Cosmetology
The Hawaii Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee favorably reported SB 1619 to the Senate Way and Means Committee.
Indiana’s Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee reported a Cosmetology Licensure Compact bill to the House Ways and Means Committee.
Kansas’ Compact bill was unanimously adopted by the House earlier last week. HB 2068 is currently in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.
In Washington, a Cosmetology Licensure Compact bill was amended by the House Appropriations Committee earlier this month. According to an official summary, a new section was added “to clarify that revenues and costs generated by home state cosmetology licenses and multistate licenses under the Cosmetology Licensure Compact are tracked and managed by the Department of Licensing separately.”
Massage Therapy
The following states have active Interstate Massage Compact bills: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Montana, New York, and Virginia. Both Montana HB SB 233 and Virginia HB 2488 have been passed by their respective chambers of origin. The other bills are in earlier stages of the legislative process. | 
