State Update – April 30

April 30, 2025

HEADLINES

• New Hampshire Poised to Reduce Cosmetology Hours
• Textured Hair Training Bill Passed in Washington
• Proposed Virginia Regulations Cut Barbering Hours

THIS WEEK IN THE STATES

The current week finds 34 states actively meeting. Over the next two weeks, the following six state legislatures are scheduled to adjourn for 2025: Hawaii, Iowa, and North Dakota (May 2), Montana (anticipated on May 5), South Carolina (May 8), and Vermont (May 9).   

NEW HAMPSHIRE COSMETOLOGY HOUR REDUCTION BILL ADVANCES

The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee voted unanimously (15 to 0) to favorably report SB 194 to the House floor. The measure would reduce the minimum course of instruction for cosmetology in the Granite State from 1,500 to 1,200 hours. The bill’s sponsor noted at an April 16 hearing that he was carrying the measure on behalf of CTE programs and educators as it is difficult to teach a 1,500-hour curriculum to high school students. 

Why This is Important: Since SB 194 will be considered on the House consent calendar, New Hampshire is poised to become the second state to reduce cosmetology training hours in 2025. 

TEXTURED HAIR TRAINING & COSMETOLOGY COMPACT BILLS PASSED IN WASHINGTON

HB 1023 and HB 1874 were passed earlier this month after the House concurred in Senate amendments. Once enrolled, the bills will be transmitted to Washington Governor Bob Ferguson (D) for signature into law.

HB 1023 is a Cosmetology Licensure Compact bill with an effective date of June 1, 2028. HB 1874 would require cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, and hair designers to receive training on the care, styling, and treatment of textured hair.

Why This is Important: The 2028 effective date for HB 1023 will allow Washington State regulators to address technological issues and cost.

Testimony in favor of HB 1874 noted that “there is no standardized training for cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, and hair designers on the care, styling, and treatment of textured hair… When stylists receive the proper training, they gain the confidence and skills to provide inclusive services for all clients. This policy is already law in California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, and New York. Washington should be next.”

PROPOSED VIRGINIA REGULATIONS WOULD REDUCE BARBERING HOURS

Proposed barbering and cosmetology regulations were published in the Virginia Register of Regulations last week. Most significantly, the amendments would reduce the course of instruction for barbering (from 1,100 to 750 hours) and master barbering (from 1,500 to 1,000 hours). Under law, hair dyeing is the only chemical treatment that non-master barbers can perform. The proposed regulations would also reduce the minimum number of required performance for barbering, master barbering, dual barbering/master barbering, nail technology, and waxing, and modify instructor training requirements.

Under the current regulation, applicants for a Virginia instructor certificate must complete one of three options: (1) pass a course in teaching techniques at the post-secondary educational level; (2) complete an instructor training course approved by the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology under the supervision of a certified barber, master barber, cosmetologist, nail technician, or wax technician instructor in a barber, cosmetology, nail technician, or wax technician school, respectively; or (3) pass an examination in barber, master barber, cosmetology, nail technician, or wax technician instruction respectively, administered by the board or by a testing service acting on behalf of the board. The Board proposes to remove the second option, completion of an approved instructor training course.

Other provisions of interest would:

• Incorporate previous Board guidance for licensing school locations. Any suites or classrooms that are located in a different building or are further than 500 feet from the main office are considered a separate location and must hold an additional license.
• Clarify that a school must hold a shop license if the school receives compensation for services provided in its clinic.
• Revise provisions regarding school staff to:
• Require that instructor programs be taught under the direct supervision of a certified instructor.
• Clarify that licensed and certified barber or master barber instructors may teach straight razor shaving on the face and neck in a cosmetology school.
• Add a provision to require that any change in instructors be reported to the Board within 30 days of the change.
• Add new provisions to incorporate previous Board guidance for online instruction.

A separate rulemaking for esthetics was published in the same Virginia Register of Regulations issue. It includes similar provisions for esthetics schools and instructor licensure. It also repeals general school equipment requirements.

A public hearing on both sets of regulation will be held on June 3, 2025, at the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation in Richmond. Comments can also be made online – click here for the barbering and cosmology regulations and here for the esthetics regulations – until June 20, 2025.

Why This is Important: According to the official economic review in the rulemaking docket, the lower hours for barbering could “result in a loss of approximately $5,049 in revenue per student, if a school elects to reduce the number of program hours to the minimum.” However, “it is possible that the reduction in the minimum number of required hours may result in an increase in the number of students enrolling in licensed barber programs based on the potential reduced program cost and the potential ability to receive licensure more quickly.”

The economic analysis also states that “from 2022-2024 there was an average of 49 individuals per year who were approved for an instructor certification through an instructor training program, rather than the other two pathways… This could result in a potential cost of $277,193 to instructor programs as a collective per year.”

LOUISIANA HOUES TO DEBATE NATURAL HAIR BRAIDING DEREGULATION

Two natural hair braiding bills will be debated on the House floor next week. HB 370 would require natural hair braiders to pass a 20-question safety and sanitation examination in order to obtain a “special permit.” HB 509 would deregulate natural hair braiding and provide for a voluntary “alternative hair designer” permit for individuals who complete at least 500-hours of instruction. The bill would also preempt local ordinances prohibiting or regulating natural hair braiding.



Why This Important: Under current law, a 500-hour “alternative hair design” permit is required to provide these services in a licensed cosmetology salon.

MONTANA ADOPTS IMPACT BILL

Montana’s Interstate Massage Compact (IMPact) bill was signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte (R) earlier this month.



Why This is Important: Montana is the fifth state to adopt IMPact. With Georgia adjourning earlier this month before adopting an IMPact bill, the Compact needs two more states to reach the seven-state threshold necessary for launch.

ND GOVERNOR ADOPTS BARBERING ACT AMENDMENTS

Governor Kelly Armstrong signed HB 1317 into law earlier this month. The Act, effective August 1, 2025, creates the following three new license categories: restricted barber (limited in practice to specific areas in which competence has been demonstrated), temporary barber (for recent graduates awaiting examination), and retired barber (for experienced barbers over 65 or with 20+ years of practice). The measure also adds two ex officio members to the State Barber Board to perform shop inspections and office duties.

A cosmetology moderation bill – HB 1126 – requested by the State Board of Cosmetology received finals legislative approval with a 45 to 1 Senate vote and a subsequent 81 to 8 House concurrence vote. As previously reported, the measure headed to Governor Armstrong would: expand the Board from five to seven seats; establish a 1,100-hour advanced esthetics license; allow “any person authorized to do business” in the state to own a “salon establishment;” provide for inspections generated by a complaint; eliminate the high school graduation requirement for prospective cosmetology students; simplify and reduce training hours needed to obtain an instructor’s license and establish a required curriculum; authorize U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeships for cosmetology, esthetics and manicuring, and; expand licensure reciprocity.

Why This is Important: According to testimony from the President of the Barbering Board, a restricted license would allow individuals who failed one of the required parts of their licensing exam to “work under a master barber until they can retest. Adding these licenses allows new graduates to get into the workforce sooner and continue to master their skills, while being monitored by a licensed professional to ensure quality and safety.”



Once HB 1126 is enacted, North Dakota will join Washington, DC, and six states in offering an advanced or master license that permits the performance of services and procedures not included in the state’s basic esthetics license.

OREGON HOUSE PASSES AMBIGUOUS TRAINING PROGRAM BILL

The House voted unanimously last week to pass HB 2380. The measure would establish an ambiguously defined “provisional certificate program” that would allow holders to perform cosmetology services under the supervision of a certified practitioner. Applicants must live at least 50 miles from a school that offers a program in the field of practice and to pay a fee. The bill is currently in the Senate Labor and Business Committee which has scheduled a May 1, 2025, hearing on the bill.

The Senate companion – SB 207 – was passed by the Senate 23 to 4 earlier this month and is currently in the House Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee.



Why This is Important: According to testimony submitted by the Aveda Institute Portland, the alternative training program bill “leaves too many critical questions unanswered and places the burden of implementation on the Board of Cosmetology without clear legislative guidance.” Most significantly, the measure leaves unresolved who covers the cost of instruction and how certificate holders qualify for state licensure.  

BILL TRACKING AND QUESTIONS

Please visit our newly enhanced 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.