As you may be aware, the Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (Board), which oversees massage therapy and related professions, was up for sunset this year. This means the Board could have been closed by the legislature or granted an extension to continue operating. In May, Governor J. Kevin Stitt vetoed House Bill 1030, which would have extended the Board—a decision that put professional licensure and public safety at risk.
No need to panic! Days before the legislature adjourned, a different bill, Senate Bill 676, was amended and signed into law to grant the Board a one-year extension. This safeguards licensing standards and regulatory oversight for massage therapy and related professions. We can breathe a collective sigh of relief because we won this round, but we’ll have more work to do in 2026.
ABMP will work with industry partners, the legislature, and the governor’s office to make sure the Board is properly extended and will remain protected for years to come when we revisit this topic next year.