Arizona A multi-occupation deregulation bill was recently introduced by Representative Alexander Kolodin’s (R). The "Abolition of Functionally Unnecessary Excessive Regulators Act,” would eliminate the state’s barbering and cosmetology Board.
In a Facebook post, Representative Kolodin called the bill “deregulation with a blowtorch!” HB 2031 has been assigned to the House Regulatory Oversight and Rules Committees.
Senator Timothy Dunn introduced a bill last week to modify the definitions of “aesthetics,” “barbering,” “cosmetology,” and “hairstyling.” SB 1118 also contains provisions to: eliminate the de minimis sanitation, infection protection and law review class currently required to perform blow dry styling without a license; allow licensed barbers to obtain a cosmetology license after completing a 300-hour course, and; allow licensed cosmetologists to obtain a barber license after completing a 200-hour course.
Indiana The House Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee conducted a hearing last week on HB 1329 and HB 1320. Archived video can be found here.
HB 1329 is an hour reduction bill that would reduce the course of instruction for cosmetology (from 1,500 to 1,000 hours), barbering (from 1,500 to 1,000 hours), and beauty culture instructors (from 1,000 to 500 hours). After testimony from school representatives, instructors and students in opposition to the bill, the measure was retained in Committee.
The Committee voted 10 to 1 to pass HB 1320, which was introduced to expand U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeships to barbering, esthetics, and manicuring. A Committee amendment however removed esthetics from being licensable through an apprenticeship.
Iowa House and Senate bills were recently introduced to create an ambiguously defined barbering and cosmetology establishment training program that would allow participating salons/shops to employ unlicensed individuals to shampoo, cut hair, color, and style “under the supervision of a licensee who regularly provides the services.”
HF 49 has been referred to the House State Government Committee and SF 41 has been referred to the Senate Government Affairs Committee.
Kentucky Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas (D) introduced a bill that would allow beauty industry licensure applicants “who fails all or part of an examination” to “be eligible to retake the failed portion after one (1) month has passed from the date the applicant received actual notice of the failure.” SB 22 would also eliminate the requirement that the executive director of the Board of Cosmetology be a licensed cosmetologist. The bill has been referred to the Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee.
Nebraska A bill to modify examination requirements for barber applicants was introduced last week by Senator Merv Riepe. Under current law, if an applicant fails the barber examination twice, they must complete a 500-hour course in a barbering school. LB 160 would allow an applicant that has failed the exam twice to “test out of the course of study after completion of two hundred fifty hours with the approval of the board.” If the applicant fails the test-out attempt, he/she must complete the remaining 250 hours before taking the exam a third time.
New Jersey The Assembly Regulated Professions Committee reported A1929 last week with amendments. The measure clarifies that current private career school closure requirements also apply to private cosmetology and hairstyling schools. Additionally, the bill requires the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to develop a model teach-out plan for private career schools licensed by the board.
According to an official statement, “this bill is meant to address the abrupt closure of Capri Institute, a school licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling with several locations in the State, as well as similar closures that could occur in the future. When Capri Institute closed, many students were left with institutional debt and no way to access their transcripts. If the school had entered into a teach-out agreement, as required by the private career school law, Capri Institute would have been required to arrange for transfer of the students to an eligible transfer institute approved by the commissioner and provide students with a complete academic record and official transcripts.”
The measure is currently eligible for consideration on the Assembly floor.
New York Seven Democratic Assembly member introduced a bill last week that would establish a comprehensive framework for licensing and regulating laser hair removal technicians. Specific requirements – including minimum hours of training – would be established by rules promulgated by the Secretary of State in consultation with the state’s Appearance Enhancement Advisory Committee.
A1916 has been referred to the Assembly Economic Development Committee.
Utah The Office of Professional Licensure Review (OPLR) released its much-anticipated review of cosmetology licensure last week. The report recommends:
- Creating two pathways for licensure: 1) a traditional path leading to a full license with a broad scope of practice, and 2) an ‘endorsement’ structure for individuals to choose narrower licensure a la carte, allowing for more flexibility and lower cost for the new entrant.
- Establishing ‘minimum service counts’ (a required number of hands-on procedures performed while in training) to ensure consistency in hands-on training, increase safety guardrails for all licensees and consumers, and limit instances of over-training above that required for consumer safety.
- Increasing training hours for instructors and aligning apprenticeship and school requirements to better prepare licensees, especially for services with relatively higher risk to consumers (e.g., eyelash extensions).
- Establish hour requirements for each license or endorsement based on the time required for 1) teaching theory required for safety and 2) minimum hands-on training repetitions required for safety for each service included in the scope of practice.
“By applying these recommendations, OPLR estimates that a hair-related license (e.g., ‘hair design’) should require a range of 460-800 hours, and a skin-related license (e.g., ‘esthetics’) should require a range of 640-1000 hours. The hours for other narrow-scope endorsements or stand-alone licenses such as nail technician, electrology, or laser tattoo removal should be built up in the same way.”
Utah’s legislature kicked-off its 45-day legislative session on Tuesday. During this short window, legislation is expected to address OPLRs recommendations.
Virginia The Senate General Laws and Technology amended and unanimously reported SB 1128 to the Senate floor last week. The measure would allow minors 16 years of age or older to provide services in a licensed barbershop or salon provided that (i) he/she is an apprentice, (ii) he/she is participating in a work-training program in accordance with relevant law, or (iii) he/she has obtained a cosmetology or barber license from the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology.
Delegate Wendell Walker (R) introduced a bill last week to amend the definition of “cosmetologist,” “cosmetology,” and “esthetics.” To this end, the measure specifies that cosmetology includes “administering hair removal treatments; administering basic cleansing facial treatments to enhance or improve the appearance and care of the skin, which only includes a cleanse, tone, and application of a mask or moisturizer.” HB 2669 also replaces “shaving” in the definition of cosmetology with “trimming.” The measure has been referred to the House General Laws Committee.
Washington The House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee conducted a hearing last week on a Cosmetology Licensure Compact bill – HB 1023. A Committee vote was expected after press time on Tuesday.
According to the measure’s fiscal note, “The agency (Department of Licensing) anticipates approximately 10% of the eligible licensees will participate in this program. Assuming the ongoing costs projected in this Fiscal Note, the additional fee to licensees are projected to be greater than $500 but not exceed $1,000 for a multi-state license.”
Cosmetology Licensure Compact bills were also recently introduced in Indiana (HB 1133), and Nebraska (LB 82).
Wyoming Two bills of interest were introduced this month in Cheyenne. The first is a hair braiding deregulation bill – SF113 – that was sponsored by 15 members of the 31 seat State Senate and the second is a bill to establish 1600-hour barbering apprenticeships – HB 257 – sponsored by nine members of the 62-seat House.
On the regulatory front, the Board of Cosmetology is proposing to amend the following rules.
Comments on the proposal can be sent to sharon.bennett@wyo.gov by February 11, 2025.
Of note to schools, the board is removing the hour requirement for a cosmetology cross-over license for barbers as it was found cosmetology statutes do not allow for this cross-over license. They are also: proposing a 125-hour lash extension add-on license for hairstylist and nail technicians; adding a small amount of discretionary learning – two percent of total program hours – to required curriculum hours, and; are adjusting distant learning requirements for schools to allow “any non-clinical floor hours” to be earned “by synchronous remote education.” According to the Board, “the discretionary hours assist schools and students, by allowing alternate learning opportunities, and the change to distant learning is a cleanup of rules implemented in 2020.” | 
