State Update - February 18

February 18, 2026

HEADLINES

• Esthetics Bills Debated in Indiana and South Dakota
• South Carolina Subcommitte Increases Esthetics Hours and Adds Hair Design License
• Mississippi Senate Passes Modernization Bill Revising Instructor Training
• State Legislative Updates from Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin

THIS WEEK IN THE STATES

The current week finds week 43 state legislatures actively meeting. On Thursday, New Mexico’s legislature will be the first in the nation to adjourn for the year sine die. 

Additionally, the following states have crossover deadlines this and next week. 

February 16 – Oregon

February 18 – Virginia

February 19 – Kansas

February 24 – South Dakota and Wyoming  

February 26 – Mississippi



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.

INDIANA LEGISLATORS CLARIFY ESTHETICS SCOPE OF PRACTICE

Indiana SB 1131 received final legislative passage last week after the Senate voted 44 to 4 to pass the bill without amendment(s). The bill headed to Governor Braun (R) amends the state’s definition of esthetics to include eyelash lift or tinting, eyebrow lamination or tinting, and microneedling. It also provides for a 600-hour electrology license. 

Why this is important: The bill addresses an October 2025 ban on estheticians performing these services. It would also require licensees performing microneedling to provide the state’s Professional Licensing Agency “with proof of advanced training or certification” upon request. 

SOUTH DAKOTA ESTHETICS BILL DEFEATED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR

A bill to establish basic and advanced esthetics licenses was defeated on the House floor (27 to 38) last week. The new advanced license, which requires an additional 400 hours of instruction, would have allowed advanced estheticians to perform the following services for compensation: (1) Chemical exfoliation; (2) Dermaplaning; (3) Electrical energy treatments; (4) Microdermabrasion; (5) Microneedling; (6) Extracting impactions and comedones from follicles using lancets or needles; 7) Applying eyelash extensions using ultraviolent light; and (8) Lymphatic drainage.

At the House Commerce and Energy Committee hearing on HB 1165, Wendy Beaumont, the owner of TSPA Rapid City, testified in favor of the bill. Adrian Ness, the Program Director of the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission, opposed the bill and called it confusing to the public and licensees as South Dakota estheticians can currently perform these services with appropriate training. 

A separate bill, which would require 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, was passed by House 64 to 1 last week. It states, “the commission shall credit two hours of work experience in the applicable field as one hour of school education. Only work experience that occurred after the applicant was initially licensed may be credited. The work experience hours may not be credited for more than half of the hours of education required for the license.” HB 1194 is currently in the Senate Commerce and Energy Committee.  

Why this is important: HB 1165 and HB 1194 were sponsored by State Representative Tesa Schwans (R), a beauty school graduate and longtime Sioux Fall salon owner. Despite her strong advocacy for HB 1165, the measure could not overcome the scope of practice arguments articulated by the Cosmetology Commission.  

SOUTH CAROLINA LAWMAKERS WEIGH OVERHAUL OF BARBERING APPRENTICESHIPS AND COSMETOLOGY STANDARDS

South Carolina's House Regulatory Review Subcommittee favorably reported HB 4752 to the full Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee with an amendment that would increase the course of instruction for esthetics to 600-hours and establish a 1,100-hour hair design license. 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. Garrett Shuler and Scott Bills from Paul Mitchell Schools testified last week in favor of the amended bill.   

Why this is important: South Carolina legislators are seeking to harmonize the state’s barbering and cosmetology Acts – including the possible merger of the state’s barbering and cosmetology boards. Mr. Shuler also requested that legislators remove a current statutory provision that prevents cosmetology school owners from serving on the state board.  

MISSISSIPPI SENATE BILL AMENDS APPRENTICESHIP SUPERVISION AND INSTRUCTOR TRAINING

The Senate voted 43 to 9 last Wednesday to pass SB 2566 as amended. 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.  

Why this is important: The bill was introduced at the request of the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Cosmetology, which regained a working quorum earlier this year, to modernize the state’s practice Act.

ADDITIONAL STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Alabama’s Senate voted unanimously last week to pass a natural hair braiding/weaving deregulation bill. SB 183 is currently in the House Boards, Agencies and Commissions Committee. 



Arizona SB 1563, which would extend the Sunset of the state’s Board of Barbering and Cosmetology to July 31, 2034, was favorably reported from the Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee last week. A separate bill – SB 1518 – would enact sunset review recommendations.

A Colorado barbering and cosmetology sunset bill was officially introduced last week. HB 1181 addresses Colorado Office of Policy, Research & Regulatory Reform (COPRRR) sunset recommendations, including: an 11-year extension of the state’s Barber and Cosmetology Act; the sunset of a stakeholder Advisory Committee; and deregulation of blow dry styling and makeup application.

A Republican sponsored hour reduction bill was introduced in Illinois last week. HB 5581 would reduce the course of instruction for barbering (from 1,500 to 1,200 hours), cosmetology (from 1,500 to 1,200 hours), esthetics (from 750 to 600 hours), nail technology (from 350 to 280 hours), and hair braiding (from 300 to 240 hours), as well as for teachers in these fields.

Idaho HB 547, which would reduce the course of instruction for cosmetology from 1,600 to 1,000 hours, was referred back to the House Business Committee last Friday. The measure was previously on the House floor for over a week. 

Pennsylvania’s Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee favorable reported a Cosmetology Licensure Compact bill – SB 331 – to the full Senate.

Last week, Virginia’s House of Delegates voted unanimously to pass an Esthetics Licensure Compact bill and Wisconsin’s Senate passed a Cosmetology Licensure Compact bill – SB 335 – by voice vote.

A West Virginia “master esthetics” bill was introduced Monday by six Republican Delegates. The new license would require applicants to have an esthetician license and 600 hours of “advanced esthetics education” – 1,200 hours total.  According to the sponsors, HB 5538 is intended to allow master estheticians to use lasers, intense pulsed light (IPL) devices, and perform microneedling and radiofrequency treatments.

UPCOMING HEARINGS

February 19, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. – Michigan House Regulatory Reform Committee Hearing on HB 4908 and HB 4909

HB 4908 would allow cosmetology students and apprentices to perform shampoo services in cosmetology establishments under specific conditions.

HB 4909 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.” The bill 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.

February 19, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. – Michigan Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee Hearing on HB 4934 and HB 4935

The tied-barred bills would establish a temporary permit for barbers and cosmetologists to perform services at a veteran service organization.

February 19, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. – South Carolina Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee Hearing on H4752

See above.  

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.