State Update - August 20

August 20, 2025

HEADLINES

• Secretary McMahon Addresses State Legislators at ALEC Meeting
• Illinois Governor Signs Sunset Extension Bill
• Recap of Oklahoma and Texas Bill Vetoes 

THIS WEEK IN THE STATES

The current week finds 10 state legislatures actively meeting – including Alaska and Texas meeting in special session. Texas Governor Greg Abbottt (R) convened a second special session last Friday afternoon to address redistricting and legislation to "ensure and enhance" youth camp safety. House Democrats returned to Austin Monday – after breaking quorum during the first special session – to debate legislation that could potentially add five GOP-controlled Congressional seats. 

U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ADDRESSES ACCREDITATION AT ALEC MEETING

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon spoke at the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) 52nd Annual Meeting in Indianapolis last month on Trump administration priorities, including accreditation reform.

According to an article posted online, McMahon said accreditation was one of the issues she heard the most about when she first came on as Secretary. “You have five or six accreditors all over the country responsible for… giving the ‘good housekeeping’ seal of approval for colleges and universities,” Sec. McMahon said. “Think about the power that that accreditor has… to hold back their accreditation and to force policy then into colleges and universities… We need more accreditors, but we also need to change all the regulations, so we’re taking a hard look at all of that.”

ALEC, which is the nation’s largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism, “believes free markets allow for competition, which creates incentives for all businesses, in this case, accreditors and the universities they evaluate, to provide a better service and create a better outcome. We have seen the success of free market principles through the K-12 education freedom movement in allowing families more educational options than just one public school. These principles can also be used to improve the higher education system, and that is what these efforts aim to do.”

Why this is important: Florida and North Carolina passed bills in 2022 and 2023, respectively, that mandate public colleges and universities switch accreditors every cycle. Secretary McMahon applauded these efforts and said, “we need to have more of that kind of a regional approach.”

COLORADO SEEKS COMMENTS ON MEDICAL-AESTHETIC SERVICES DELEGATION

The Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure has proposed regulations to implement House Bill 25-1024. The underlying bill requires medical professionals (specifically physicians and advanced practice registered nurses) who delegate medical-aesthetic services to provide detailed transparency and informed consent. A rulemaking hearing will be held via ZOOM on September 2, 2025.

Why this is important: One commenter noted that the definition of “medical-aesthetic services” in HB 25-1024 is ambiguous and “will create interpretive conflicts across licensing boards (Medical, Nursing, Cosmetology), confusion for regulated professionals, and enforcement problems for inspectors. It also opens the door to improper delegation, unlicensed practice, or professional overreach — particularly in shared esthetics/med spa settings.” She recommends that the rulemaking be delayed until a stakeholder working group defines “medical-aesthetic services” in a uniform way across all affected license types.

ILLINOIS GOVERNOR SIGNS SUNSET BILL

Earlier this month, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a Sunset extension bill into law. SB 2495 extends the sunset date of the state’s Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act until January 1, 2031, and adds language allowing the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to review a school’s enrollment agreement and curricula “to ensure compliance requirements of this Act, any applicable rules, and other applicable laws.”

Why this is Important: SB 2495 did not receive a dissenting vote in either legislative chamber. In addition to extending the sunset of the state’s practice Act, SB 2495 makes technical updates to align with current professional practices and technological advancements in the beauty industry.

RECAP OF 2025 STATE BILL VETOES

The following is a compendium of 2025 state bill vetoes. Click here for a complete A to Z list of enactments and vetoes. Please note that these resources may not list all bills of interest or concern to your school or business.

Oklahoma HB 1030 – The bill would have extended the Sunset of the state’s Board of Cosmetology and Barbering until July 1, 2028. Governor Kevin Stitt (R) stated in his veto message that the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering should be restructured or consolidated under a more appropriate umbrella. “Before granting another sunset extension, the Legislature should take a step back and ask: What does this Board really need to do, and who should be in charge of it? 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. For these reasons, I have vetoed Enrolled House Bill 1030.”

Governor Stitt (R) subsequently signed SB 676 into law. The Act contained language to extend the sunset of the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering until July 1, 2025, which under state law allows beauty industry practitioners and schools to remain licensed until June 30, 2026.

Cosmetology and barbering regulation and oversight will be revisited during Oklahoma’s 2026 legislative session.  

Texas HB 705 – Governor Greg Abbott (R) cited the protection of “state sovereignty” in vetoing this Cosmetology Licensure Compact bill. His veto Proclamation stated, “while I appreciate that the bill's authors added language that attempts to protect state sovereignty, there is no guarantee that the Compact Commission will respect that language, or that it will refrain from making changes in the future that hurt Texans. That, of course, is the problem with giving away Texas sovereignty to others today-no one knows what they will do tomorrow. This cession of state power is also unnecessary. Out-of-state cosmetology licensees may already seek reciprocal licensing here. This session, the Legislature made it even easier for many practitioners by granting provisional licenses in Senate Bill No. 1818. If more changes are needed to better align Texas practice with national standards, there is a way to do that without surrendering state power: Pick and choose which rules to put in state law.”

This is the second time Governor Abbott has vetoed a Cosmetology Licensure Compact bill. In May of 2023, Governor Abbott vetoed SB 1815 citing similar concerns. He stated at the time that Texas should “wait and see” who else joins the Compact.

Texas SB 378 – The bill would have prohibited barbering and cosmetology licensees from making “an incision into the dermis layer of a person’s skin” or from using a device ordered or prescribed by a medical practitioner.

The Governor’s veto proclamation stated, “Texas should be removing barriers for small businesses and occupational licensees. Senate Bill 378 by Schwertner does just the opposite by, among other things, prohibiting a licensed cosmetologist or barber from ‘making an incision into the dermis layer of a person's skin.’ Barbers who nick a customer's neck during a straight razor shave should not fear the loss of their licenses. As we work to make government more efficient and less intrusive for Texans and businesses, unnecessary and overly burdensome regulations are counterproductive. Therefore, I disapprove of this bill.”