State Update – March 4

March 4, 2026

HEADLINES

• Alabama Senate Passes Blow Dry Styling Deregulation Bill
• Missouri and West Virginia Bills Would Create Ambiguous Training Programs
• South Carolina House Passes Barbering and Cosmetology Reforms 

THIS WEEK IN THE STATES

The first week of March finds week 43 state legislatures actively meeting. Over the next two weeks, Louisiana begins its 2026 legislative session as the states listed below conclude theirs in the year’s first major wave of adjournments.

March 6 – Utah and Wyoming

March 9 – Oregon

March 12 – Washington

March 13 – Florida

March 14 – Indiana, Virginia and West Virginia

Additionally, the Georgia (3/6), Hawaii (3/12) and Utah (3/3) have crossover deadlines this and next week. This is the last day for a bill to pass out of the chamber in which it was introduced and move forward for consideration in the opposite chamber.

ALABAMA SENATE PASSES BLOW DRY STYLING DEREGULATION BILL

The Senate voted unanimously last week to pass a makeup application and blow dry styling deregulation bill. SB 274 has been transmitted to the House and referred to the chamber’s Boards, Agencies and Commissions Committee.

Why this is important: A growing number of states – including neighboring Georgia – have deregulated blow dry styling. Both the Institute for Justice and the American Legislative Exchange Council have model deregulation bills.

MISSOURI DEMOCRAT INTRODUCES ESTABLISHMENT TRAINING PROGRAM BILL

A barbering “establishment training program” bill was introduced last week in the Show-Me State. The ambiguously defined “training program” measure would allow unlicensed individuals to provide barbering services after a four-hour law and sanitation law course. The “supervising licensee” would not be required to hold an instructor’s license or a barber apprentice supervisor’s license, nor would he or she be required to adhere to an established or approved curriculum. 

HB 3472 has not been assigned to a standing committee. 

Why this is important: While HB 3472 theoretically provides a third pathway to licensure, the ambiguous language may allow unlicensed individuals to indefinitely work in barber shops. Missouri currently has both barber schools that require 1,000 hours of instruction and barbering apprenticeships that require 2,000 hours of supervision before sitting for the state’s written and practical examinations.

In other states, similar IJ-inspired bills have been introduced by Republican legislators. HB 3472 is however sponsored by State Rep. Marty Murray (D), who is an African American Representative from St. Louis. 

SC HOUSE PASSES BARBERING & COSMETOLOGY MODERNIZATION BILL

South Carolina H4752 was amended and unanimously passed by the House (109 to 0) last week. As currently drafted, the bill would: combine the states barbering and cosmetology boards by establishing a nine-member Board of Cosmetology and Barbering with dedicated cosmetology and barber school seats; create an 1,100-hour hair design license, and; increase the course of instruction for esthetics from 450 to 600 hours. As previously reported, the bill would also eliminate 12-month barbering apprenticeships, which occurs after barbering school or on the job training and the passage of licensure examinations.

Why this is important: Current statutory provision prevents cosmetology school owners from serving on the state board. A bill to harmonize the state’s barbering and cosmetology Acts has provided an opportunity for a new hair only license and other modifications benefiting future beauty industry professionals.

HARMFUL AMENDMENTS ADDED TO WV MASTER ESTHETICS BILL

West Virginia’s Senate voted 31 to 1 Monday to pass SB 486. The bill, which was originally drafted to establish a 900-hour master esthetics license, was amended last week by the Senate Government Operations Committee to also deregulate hair braiding, threading, blow-dry styling, and makeup application. Additionally, provisions to establish a "salon training program" for hair design were added to the measure. 

Similar to Missouri HB 3472, the ambiguously defined “training program” measure would allow unlicensed individuals to provide hair design services after a four-hour rules and sanitation course.

West Virginia apprenticeships are currently limited to barbering and cosmetology. A separate House bill (HB 4793) to expand apprenticeships to aestheticians, nail technicians, or hair stylists is currently being considered on the House floor.

Why this is important: Schools and beauty industry partners need to closely monitor introduced bills for harmful amendments as they move through the legislative process.   

GEORGIA HOUSE COMMITTEE ADVANCES STUDY COMMITTEE RESOLUTION

Georgia’s House Regulated Industries Committee favorably reported a substitute resolution last week that would establish a seven-member study committee to investigate cosmetology and barbering education with a focus on accredited private beauty school’s contribution to the state’s workforce. It states, “WHEREAS, accredited private schools of cosmetology, schools of hair design, schools of esthetics, schools of nail care, and schools of barbering in this state provide high quality education and training for their students so they can become licensed professionals, educators, and entrepreneurs; and WHEREAS, such schools and their students do not receive the same opportunities to participate in workforce development programs or to obtain state funded scholarships, loans, and grants that may be available for comparable programs within the Technical College System of Georgia or for private postsecondary institutions; and WHEREAS, state support for such schools and their students would contribute to the education and development of Georgia's workforce and to the growth and success of Georgia's economy.” 

Why this is important: The bipartisan resolution was introduced last March with a state financial aid focus. To remain viable, the full House of Representatives will need pass it before a March 6, 2026, crossover deadline.  

UTAH LEGISLATORS AGAIN MODIFY INSTRUCTOR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

A 153-page occupational and professional licensure bill – SB 117 – received final legislative passage last month and is in the process of being enrolled for transmittal to Governor Spencer Cox (R). While many of the changes in this non-cosmetology specific bill are technical and conforming, the measure contains provisions to revise cosmetology and related professions instructor training hours from 35% of the minimum hours for the license or permit the applicant intends to instruct to a flat 75 clock hour training program.

Why this is important: If Governor Cox signs the bill into law, Utah instructor training requirements would be revised for the third time in three years.

BRIEFLY NOTED

Kansas’ House of Representatives voted unanimously last month to pass an Esthetics Licensure Compact bill. HB 2760 is currently in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. 

Michigan HB 4909 has been transmitted to the Senate after the House of Representatives voted 105 to 1 last week to pass the bill. The measure would change the requirement for schools and apprenticeship programs to submit attendance records to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs from monthly to “on request.” It also clarifies that students and apprentices complete “not less than 350 hours in the general cosmetology curriculum” before practicing on the public, while students in specialized areas like natural hair cultivation, manicuring, skin care, or electrology can practice after completing one-quarter of their required curriculum hours. 

Oklahoma’s House Administrative Rules Committee favorably reported a Committee Substitute to HB 3000 to the House floor. As currently drafted, the bill would extend the sunset State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering until July 1, 2031. 

Virginia HB 579 is dead after being pulled at the request of the bill’s patron. The measure would have modified the education and examination requirements of the Interstate Massage Compact to clarify acceptable national examinations and expand acceptable education programs to include massage therapists with less than 625 clock hours of education but who have held a license in good standing for at least two years. IMpact opposed the bill.

UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE HEARING

March 5, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. – Colorado House Business Affairs and Labor Committee Hearing on HB 1181

The bill would extend the state’s barber and cosmetologist Act until September 1, 2037.

ON THE REGULATORY FRONT

Arkansas’ State Board of Health has released proposed regulations to comply with Acts 2025, No. 484, regarding required posting of the National Human Trafficking Resource Hotline, and minor changes to clarify wax pot safety and addition of body art modalities after initial licensure. A more detailed summary of the amendments can be found online along with the rule markup. Public comments are being accepted until March 23, 2026.

Wisconsin’s Cosmetology Examining Board has submitted proposed rules that add “laser skin rejuvenation services” and “eyelash perming” to the list of delegated medical procedures that licensee can perform with proper training and supervision to the Legislative Council Clearinghouse. The proposed regulations would also amend various school curriculums to add instruction on “tax reporting.” Comments on the Clearinghouse rule are being accepted through April 21, 2026. 

BILL TRACKING & QUESTIONS

Please visit the AACS State Legislative Tracking page to access bill text and to see what may be pending in your state(s). Please note that this resource contains bills not listed in this report that may be of interest or concern to your school or business.

Please contact StateGR@myaacs.org with comments or questions.