In a move to enhance public safety, Governor Tim Walz signed into law House File 286 in May, authorizing local governments to gather criminal history information from massage therapy business owners.
The bill allows a county or city to investigate the criminal history of any individual who applies for a business license. An applicant may be an individual practitioner, a limited liability company (LLC), a partnership, or a director/manager.
If your county or city requests a background check, the following must be submitted to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (Bureau):
- A state criminal records check
- A national criminal history check
- A full set of fingerprints
- Applicable fees
Using the criminal history data provided by the Bureau, a county or city will determine whether an applicant may be disqualified from business licensure. Failure to cooperate with a county or city in conducting a records check will result in an application denial.
Effective August 1, 2025