Hawaii Three bipartisian bills of interest were recently introduced in the Hawaii Senate. SB 1619, introduced with nine sponsors from the 25-member chamber, would authorize entry into the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. SB 1620, introduced with seven sponsors, would deregulate natural hair braiding, and SB 1621, introduced with six sponsors, would eliminate the statutory hours – currently 350 hours at a beauty school – required for licensure as a nail technician. Instead, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs would be tasked with developing licensure requirement rules.
All three bills have been referred to the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, which has scheduled a February 7, 2025, hearing on the bills.
Indiana The House of Representatives voted 87 to 7 last week to pass HB 1320. The bill would expand apprenticeships by allowing individuals who have completed a U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship in barbering or manicuring to take the requisite state licensure examination. The bill has been transmitted to the Senate.
Maryland A Senate bill was recently introduced to create a 100-hour limited license to provide eyelash extension services. SB 617 has been referred to the Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee.
Mississippi A bill – HB 954 – to extend the deadline from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2028, for the Department of Finance and Administration, the Department of Information Technology Services, and the State Personnel Board to assist the State Board of Cosmetology and the Board of Barber Examiners in consolidating their agencies was reported from the House Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency Committee last week. A Senate companion bill – SB 2693 – has been introduced and referred to the chamber’s Public Health and Welfare Committee.
Montana An apprenticeship bill was introduced last week in Montana by freshman Representative Curtis Schomer (R) and House Business and Labor Committee Chairman Ed Buttery (R), along with Senator Wendy McKamey (R). HB 336 would authorize apprenticeship licensure for (i) barbering; (ii) barbering nonchemical; (iii) cosmetology; (iv) electrology; (v) esthetics; and (vi) manicuring. A House Business and Labor Committee hearing on the bill has been scheduled for February 5, 2025.
The Wyoming Senate Labor Committee voted unanimously Monday to recommend passage of a hair braiding reregulation bill. SF113 has been placed in the General File for consideration on the Senate floor.
New Hampshire The Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee has scheduled SB 194 for a hearing on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. The bipartisian bill would reduce the course of instruction for cosmetology from 1,500 to 1,200 hours and add an eighth member to the Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics.
Earlier this week, the Institute for Justice published an op-ed in NHJournal.com calling for states to eliminate or scale back on beauty industry licensing.
New Jersey The Assembly voted unanimously – 75 to 0 – last week to pass A1929. As previously reported, the measure clarifies that current private career school closure requirements also apply to private cosmetology and hairstyling schools. Additionally, the bill requires the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to develop a model teach-out plan for private career schools licensed by the board. According to an official statement, “this bill is meant to address the abrupt closure of Capri Institute, a school licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling with several locations in the State, as well as similar closures that could occur in the future.”
New York Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman (D) recently introduced a bill that would allow licensed estheticians and licensed cosmetologists to practice microneedling upon completion of a five-hour course. A3084 has been referred to the Assembly Economic Development Committee.
North Dakota A modernization bill requested by the State Board of Cosmetology was favorably reported from the House Industry, Business and Labor last week. HB 1126 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; revise apprenticeship provisions and definitions, and; expand licensure reciprocity.
Advanced esthetics means the practice of advanced cosmetic preparations or procedures using the hands or a mechanical or electronic apparatus for esthetic purposes. “The term includes: (1) Advanced chemical peels; (2) Microneedling; and (3) Extractions using lancets.”
Under the bill, student instructors with more than two years of experience as a licensed professional would need to complete 240-hours of training. Under current law, instructors must receive at least 960-hours of training at a cosmetology school.
The bill is now eligible for consideration on the House floor.
Pennsylvania A bill to authorize the Keystone State’s entry into the Cosmetology Licensure Compact was introduced last week. HB 365 has been referred to the House Professional Licensure Committee.
Tennessee House and Senate bills were recently introduced to require the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR), a state research agency, to conduct a comprehensive study on the economic impact of cosmetology and barbering, “including revenue generated through the services provided and the number of jobs generated by the professions.” HB 362 and SB 358 are awaiting committee assignments in their respective chambers.
Texas The Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has announced a review of Continuing Education Requirements rules for re-adoption, revision, or repeal. The Department will determine whether the reasons for adopting or readopting these rules continue to exist by answering the following questions for each rule:
- Is it obsolete?
- Does it reflect current legal and policy considerations?
- Is it in alignment with the current procedures of the Department?
Current continuing education requirements for barbers and cosmetologists can be found here. Interested parties can review the Notice of Intent to Review and the current rules posted on the Texas Administrative Code website. Comments may be submitted electronically on the Department’s website until March 3, 2025.
Virginia House and Senate bills allowing minors 16 years of age or older to provide services in a licensed barbershop or salon received unanimous approval in their respective chambers of origin. HB 1667 and SB 1228 state that such minors must be 1) an apprentice, 2) participating in a work-training program in accordance with relevant law, or (3) have obtained a cosmetology or barber license from the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology.
The House General Laws Committee voted 18 to 2 to amend and report HB 2669 to the full House. A previously reported, the Board requested bill would amend the definition of “cosmetologist” and “cosmetology.” to prohibit straight razor shaving and certain advanced cosmetic treatments.
A General Laws Subcommittee voted 7 to 1 last week to table a bill to increase the course of instruction for massage therapy from 500 to 625 hours after a representative from the Virginia chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association testified in opposition to the bill – HB 2612.
Washington The House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee voted unanimously last month to report a Cosmetology Licensure Compact bill – HB 1023 – to the House Appropriations Committee, which has scheduled a vote this week on the measure.
Kansas’ House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee will also be conducting a Cosmetology Licensure Compact bill (HB 2068) hearing this week.
Wyoming The Senate voted 29 to 2 Monday to pass a hair braiding deregulation bill. The Braider Opportunity Act – SF 113 – has been transmitted to the House.
A House bill to establish a barbering apprenticeship program was introduced in the House last month. HB 257 has been referred to the House Education Committee. | 
