State Update - January 21

January 21, 2026

HEADLINES

• Arizona Committees Endorse Six-Year Sunset Extension
• Michigan House Passes Secondary School Facilities Bill
• Oklahoma Legislators to Soon Consider Cosmetology and Barbering Sunset Legislation
• IJ Inspired Barbershop Trainee Bill Introduced in Virginia 

THIS WEEK IN THE STATES

There are currently 38 state legislatures actively meeting – including the following states which commenced their respective 2026 state legislative sessions this week.

January 20 – New Mexico and Utah

January 21 – Hawaii



Two new Democratic governors – Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Abagail Spanberger of Virginia – were inaugurated this past week. Sherrill succeeded Democratic Governor Phil Murphy and Spanberger succeeded Republican Governor Glen Youngkin. Therefore, Spanberger’s inauguration reestablished a Democratic trifecta – control of the Governor’s office and both legislative chambers – in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

ARIZONA BOARD RECEIVES FAVORABLE SUNSET RECOMMENDATIONS

The Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency (RAGE) Committee and the House Commerce Committee discussed the state Auditor General’s Sunset Review of the Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board at separate hearings last week. After testimony from the Auditor General’s office and Board Executive Director Frank Migali, both committees voted unanimously to recommend extending the Board’s sunset six years until July 1, 2032.  

The Auditor noted that “statutory changes could enable the Board to more effectively fulfill its objective and purpose.” These include revising the definition of aesthetics to align with licensees’ training or scope; providing the Board the authority to issue cease and desist orders; and clarifying pre-October 30, 2023, training requirements for eyelash technicians.

Why this is important: Legislators seemed pleased with the Board’s performance and its response to the Sunset Audit. There were few questions and no criticism of the Board or its Executive Director during the hearings.

Legislation will be introduced in the coming weeks to address the Auditor’s recommendations.  

FLORIDA CONSIDERS TRANSFERRING BARBERING & COSMETOLOGY OVERSIGHT

The House State Administration Budget Subcommittee voted 10 to 2 last week to favorably report HB 607 to the full Commerce Committee. The multi-occupation licensure bill makes several significant changes to barbering and cosmetology licensure authority and oversight. Most significantly, it would transfer barbering and cosmetology licensure and oversight from the Barbers’ Board and the Board of Cosmetology to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. HB 607 would also eliminate continuing education requirements for barbers and cosmetologists – and 14 other professions – and extend licensure expiration and renewal periods for all DBPR professions to every four years. 

Why this is important: The measure would significant revise Florida’s state licensure paradigm as five of seven members of the Barbers’ Board and the Board of Cosmetology are licensed barbers/cosmetologists, respectively, with at least five years of experience. Florida barbers are currently required to receive two hours of continuing education annually and Florida cosmetologists are required to receive up to 10 hours biannually.

MICHIGAN HOUSE PASSES INSTRUCTOR & SECONDARY SCHOOL FACILITY BILLS

Michigan’s House of Representative voted 106 to 1 last week pass HB 4692 and 104 to 3 to pass HB 5207. As previously reported, HB 4692 would permit cosmetology schools to operate secondary school facilities, where cosmetology would be taught in a classroom setting.

HB 5207, which has the same lead sponsor, would create a clear reciprocity pathway between barber and cosmetology instructors. It would allow a licensed cosmetology instructor to become a licensed barber instructor after completing 300 hours of training in straight razor shaving and barbering technique; and similarly allow a licensed barber instructor to become a licensed cosmetology instructor after completing 300 hours of training in cosmetology technique and services.

The House also voted unanimously to pass a mobile barbershop bill – HB 4911. 

Why this is important: State Representative Angela Rigas, a cosmetologist from Western Michigan and the lead sponsor of HB 4692 and HB 5207, called the measures “a commonsense win for Michiganders looking to build careers in cosmetology and barbering — lowering entry barriers, streamlining instructor pathways, and allowing schools to expand to train more students.” 

Click here for her full statement which indicated the bills “enjoyed strong support from stakeholders like Douglas J Academy and the Michigan College of Beauty.” Rep. Rigas subsequently urged the Senate pass these bills to prioritize “pro-worker reforms.”

MISSISSIPPI HOUSE CHAIRMAN SEEKS TO MODIFY APPRENTICESHIP SUPERVISION

Two members of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee introduced bills Monday that “bring forward” the state’s cosmetology and barbering Act. SB 2439 and SB 2440 have been referred to this Committee. 

House Business and Commerce Committee Chaiman Lee Yancey (R) introduced a bill that would increase from one to two the number of apprentices that a barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technology apprenticeship mentor may supervise at a time. HB 1138 has been referred to Representative Yancey’s Committee.  

Why this is important: The Senate bills are placeholders for possible licensure amendments.

Mississippi currently requires barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technology apprenticeships to be supervised by a licensed instructor. HB 1138, as currently drafted, does not amend this requirement.

OKLAHOMA BOARD SUNSET TO BE ADDRESSED IN UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION

House Administrative Rules Committee Chairman Gerrid Kendrix and State Representative Eric Roberts introduced bills – HB 3000 and HB 3860 – to extend the sunset of the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering to July 1, 2027, and July 1, 2030, respectively. 

A separate bill – HB 3320 – was filed by Representative Mike Osburn, Chair of the House Rules Committee, to eliminate the state’s Sunset Act. Therefore, specific sunset dates for professional licensing boards – including the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering – would be eliminated. 

Why this is important: These are likely placeholder bills to begin negotiations with Governor Kevin Skitt. In May 2025, Governor Stitt (R) vetoed a barbering and cosmetology sunset bill – HB 1030 – sponsored by Representative Kendrix. In his veto message, the Governor stated the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering should be restructured or consolidated under a more appropriate umbrella.

Governor Skitt subsequently provided a one-year reprieve by signing SB 676 into law. The measure 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.  

Representatives Kendrix, Osburn, and Roberts are all committee chairman who will likely be involved in negotiations with the governor. Oklahoma’s 2026 legislative session commences on February 2, 2026.  

UTAH SEEKS TO MODIFY INSTRUCTOR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

A 148-page occupational and professional licensure bill – SB 117 – was recently introduced in the Senate and is awaiting referral to a standing committee. While many of the changes in this non-cosmetology specific bill are technical and conforming, the measure contains provisions to revise cosmetology and related professions instructor training hours from 35% of the minimum hours for the license or permit the applicant intends to instruct to a flat 75 clock hour training program.  

Why this is important: If the bill is enacted, Utah instructor training requirements would be revised for the third time in three years.

GOP VIRGINIA DELEGATE INTRODUCES BARBERSHOP TRAINEE BILL

State Delegate Wren Williams (D) introduced a “barbershop trainee” bill last week that was referred to the House General Laws Committee. This “new” pathway to licensure would be competency based and allow licensed barbershops “to employ and train barbershop trainees under the direct supervision of one or more licensed barbers.”

Trainees can take the Board-approved examination to become licensed once they submit a signed statement attesting to their competency, provided by their supervisor. The bill sets a maximum training period of four years, during which trainees must pass the exam. However, the measure also states that the Board may “waive any part of the examination requirement for good cause.” Additionally, it includes language stating that “the Board shall not penalize a barbershop owner or licensed barber acting as a supervisor to a barbershop trainee if such barbershop trainee fails the examination approved by the Board.”

Why this is important: The bill is likely inspired by a 2025 Institute for Justice sponsored establishment training bill in Iowa. Like Iowa before the 2025 passage of SF 711, Virginia has school and apprenticeship training options for aspiring barbering licensees.

It is to be determined as to how bills introduced by Republican delegates will be addressed in Virginia. Democrats expanded their House of Delegates majority in November and currently hold 63 of the chamber’s 100 seats.  

WEST VIRGINIA BILL WOULD ESTABLISH MASTER AESTHETICIAN LICENSE

State Senator Darren Thorne (R) introduced a bill on Monday that would establish a “master aesthetician" license in the Mountain State. The license would require at least 900-hours of instruction and authorize laser technology, intense pulsed light (IPL), microneedling, and radiofrequency treatments.

Why this is important: If enacted, West Virginia would become the nineth jurisdiction (eight states and the District of Columbia) to offer a master or advanced practice esthetics license.

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.