State Update – April 1

April 1, 2026

HEADLINES

• Washington, DC Proposes Barbering and Cosmetology Hour Reductions
• Oklahoma Senate Passes Regulatory Review Bill
• Sunset Bill Advance in Arizona and Colorado
• Cosmetology Licensure Compact Bills Advance in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia

THIS WEEK IN THE STATES

As April begins, 32 state legislatures remain in session. Arkansas will open its 2026 session over the next two weeks, while South Dakota (March 30), Georgia (April 2), Mississippi (April 5), and Kansas (April 10) conclude theirs.

DC PROPOSES BARBERING AND COSMETOLOGY HOUR REDUCTIONS

The District of Columbia’s Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would reduce the course of instruction for cosmetology and barbering from 1,500 hour to 1,250 hours.

The NPRM would also amend the requirements for obtaining an instructor’s license from the current 1,000 training hours by creating two pathways for licensure. “Those that are currently licensed will be able to obtain an instructor’s license upon providing the Board documentation establishing their qualifications, including proof of having worked in the field for at least two (2) years and professional references. Recent graduates will be able to obtain an instructor’s license upon the completion of five hundred (500) training hours. For both pathways, applicants will be required to pass an examination.”

Additionally, the proposed rulemaking would eliminate the salon manager’s license requirement, establish wax technician and a full wax and nails technician licenses, and amend the braider license by renaming it “natural hairstylist and braider” and revising the course of instruction from 100 to 200 hours to encompass additional techniques and hair-health lessons.

The NPRM was published in the March 27, 2026, District of Columbia Register. “All persons desiring to comment on the subject matter of these proposed regulations should submit comments in writing to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection by email to April R. Randall, Legislative Director, at april.randall2@dc.gov no later than thirty (30) days after publication of this notice.”  

Why this is important: The last three states to reduce the course of instruction for cosmetology – New Hampshire (1,200), Oklahoma (1,250), and Utah (1,250) – have reduced to 1,200 or 1,250 hours. Washington, DC, is likely to be added to this last next month. 

OKLAHOMA SENATE PASSES REGULATORY REVIEW BILL

Oklahoma’s Senate voted 45 to 1 last week to pass SB 1316 as amended. The measure would sunset the permanent rules of listed regulatory agencies at specified dates – January 1, 2029, for the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology – and every 8 years thereafter. During the one-year sunset period, the regulatory board or entity would be required to submit all of their permanent rules to the Legislature or review and approval or disapproval. Additionally, the regulator would be required to submit an accompanying report regarding obsolete, outdated, or unnecessary statutory provisions, whether certain permanent rules are still necessary, whether rule language should be implemented into state statute, and other recommendations.

Why this is important: SB 1316 may be part of the framework for a successful State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology sunset extension. As previously reported, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) vetoed a 2025 sunset extension bill. He stated, “until the Board becomes more transparent, responsive, and aligned with the needs of today’s workforce, its continued existence should not be taken for granted.”

SUNSET BILLS ADVANCE IN ARIZONA AND COLORADO

Arizona’s sunset bill was favorably reported by the House Commerce Committee last week by a vote of 7 to 1. SB 1563 would extend the Barbering and Cosmetology Board’s sunset until July 1, 2034, and decrease statutory caps on various fees. The House Rules Committee subsequently placed the bill on the House Consent Calendar. This expedites the legislative process for non-controversial bills by bypassing the Committee of the Whole.  

In Colorado, the House voted 51 to 13 last week to pass barbering and cosmetology sunset legislation – HB 1181. A majority of House chamber’s 22 Republicans voted again the measure to extend the sunset until September 2033. The bill is expected to be considered by the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee this week. 

Why this is important: Arizona’s and Colorado’s sunset extension bill have both been passed by their chamber of origin and are progressing towards final passage. AACS will continue to closely monitor them.  

SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ADVANCES SOUTH CAROLINA MODERNIZATION BILL

South Carolina H4752, which includes provisions that would increase the course of instruction for esthetics to 600-hours and establish a 1,100-hour hair design license, was reported from a Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Subcommittee to the full Committee last week. The bill would also eliminate post-licensure barbering apprenticeships, combine the state's barbering and cosmetology boards, and establish dedicated cosmetology and barber school seats on the new combined board.



Why this is important: Amendments to the bill could be forthcoming as Subcommittee members indicate their opposition to barber/cosmetology school seats on the combined board.

SOUTH DAKOTA LICENSURE PORTABILITY BILL ENACTED

South Dakota HB 1194 was signed into law. The measure requires the Cosmetology Commission to allow out-of-state licensed individuals to substitute relevant work experience for a portion of the required educational hours when applying for a South Dakota cosmetology, nail technology, or esthetics license. Accordingly, up to 750 hours of the education required for a cosmetology license can be “earned” through work experience at a ratio of two hours of work experience equaling one-hour of school education.



Why this is important: In 2019, then Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R) proposed universal licensure recognition for individuals who have held an out-of-state occupational license in good standing for at least one year. Since then, other states have reduced licensure portability barriers for experienced out-of-state licensees.

COSMETOLOGY LICENSURE COMPACT BILLS ON THE MOVE

A West Virginia Cosmetology Compact bill was transmitted to Governor Patrick Morrisey last week. HB 5087 did not receive a dissenting vote in either legislative chamber. In Delaware, the Senate Legislative Oversight & Sunset Committee reported SB 217 with three favorable votes to the Senate floor. Next door in Pennsylvania, the Senate voted unanimously last week to pass SB 331. The bill is currently on the House floor after being favorably reported by the House Professional Licensure Committee last Tuesday.

Wisconsin’s Cosmetology Licensure Compact bills are however dead as the legislature has adjourned for the year. SB 335 was passed by the Senate but was never considered in the Assembly. It’s Assembly companion – AB 323 – was referred to the chamber’s Regulatory Licensing Reform Committee but did not further advance.  

Why this is important: If Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia enact Cosmetology Compact bills, the Compact will have over a quarter of the 50 states as a member.

BRIEFLY NOTED

Mississippi SB 2566, which was introduced at the request of the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Cosmetology to modernize the state’s practice Act, received final legislative approval last week with the Senate concurring in House amendments. As previously reported, the bill makes numerous revisions to the state’s Barbering and Cosmetology Act, including requiring all Board meetings to be publicly noticed according to the Mississippi Open Meetings Act and establishing specific qualifications for the Board’s Executive Director. The bill also amends the requirements for apprentice “mentors” to require an instructor’s license and 15-years of experience. However, the mentor would be able to supervise two apprentices at a time – and increase from one – so long as only two apprentice mentors operate within the same licensed salon or barbershop. Additionally, the bill would reduce the course of instruction for an instructor’s license from 1,000 to 600 hours at a licensed school and eliminate the apprenticeship pathway for an instructor’s license.  

Rhode Island’s Senate Health and Human Services is scheduled to consider S2858 on Tuesday. The bill would establish a 50-hour eyelash service technician license for individuals wishing to apply or remove eyelash extensions, as well as perform lash lifts and eyelash tinting.

BILL TRACKING & QUESTIONS

Happy Passover and Easter!

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.