Recent News and Legislative Updates

Georgia House Bill 141 was recently introduced in the state legislature. If passed, the bill would require that all establishments that offer massage or bodywork services by a massage therapist must post a notice (1) in the establishment’s restroom and (2) near the establishment’s entrance or in another conspicuous location, which contains specified information about human trafficking and contact information for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.

Oregon Senate Bill 387 was recently introduced in the state legislature. If passed, the bill would require that all “massage facilities,” meaning any “facility where a person engages in the practice of massage,” must obtain a massage facility permit from the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists in order to operate. This requirement would not apply to licensed massage schools or to individual massage therapists working out of their homes.

Colorado Senate Bill 13-026 was recently introduced in the state legislature. If passed, the bill would amend the “Michael Skolnick Medical Transparency Act of 2010” to add massage therapists and others to the list of health care professional who must disclose certain information about their practice history to the state for inclusion in a publicly available database when they are applying for or renewing their registration. We will keep our CO members apprised of the status of the bill.

The Idaho Board of Massage Therapy has been drafting rules to implement the state massage licensure law  which was signed by Governor Otter in April 2012.  When fully implemented, the law will require that all massage therapists in Idaho obtain state licenses in order to practice.