As the hustle and bustle of the 2025 legislative season winds down, let’s round up the massage trends that heated up legislatures.
State legislatures have adjourned in over 50 percent of the country. Some bills filed this year have been signed by governors, some are waiting to be signed into law, and some never made it past the finish line. The ABMP Government Relations team noted clear trends in massage therapy, which is a great way to better predict and prepare for next year’s legislative session. For practitioners, it’s beneficial to learn what’s happening in other states and to see what changes may impact your profession. Policymakers are often influenced by proposed or pending laws. So while it’s important to know the lay of the land in your backyard, it’s also helpful to be aware of what’s going on beyond your state’s borders.
Let’s dive in and see what similarities popped up across the country and impacted massage therapy in 2025.
Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact)
IMpact bills were introduced in 10 states and were ultimately enacted in Arkansas, Montana, and Virginia. This is a huge win that ABMP advocated for and is proud to be a part of! These states join Nevada and Ohio as official IMpact-participating states. At least two more states must pass the IMpact bill before massage therapists in these states can obtain a multistate license, which will make it easier for professionals to work in other jurisdictions. We will let you know once enough states join! Learn more about the IMpact here.
Massage Therapy Licensure
Forty-five states require a massage therapy license, certification, or registration. This legislative session, there were efforts to bring statewide licensure to the unlicensed states of Kansas and Minnesota. Establishing licensure in a state is a long and difficult process, but along with our industry partners, we made progress in laying the groundwork for licensure in Kansas and Minnesota. Our goal is to see licensure in these states soon.
A path to licensure was also pursued in California this year. ABMP has strongly advocated for statewide massage therapy licensure in California for over 20 years, and though we’ve always faced an uphill battle, this was one of our most promising years yet. The California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) is undergoing a sunset-review process, which means the legislature will review the CAMTC’s effectiveness and decide whether the CAMTC should be extended, amended with suggestions for improvement, or replaced with a new regulatory model, such as licensure. Major changes to how CAMTC operates are in the works, including improvements to transparency and how CAMTC’s money is spent. At the date of posting, the CAMTC sunset-review process was ongoing, and we remain hopeful that statewide licensure will be implemented in the not-so-distant future. Stay tuned!
Miscellaneous
Other common themes across the country required massage establishments to post human trafficking awareness signs—a measure now required in Arkansas and at the discretion of business owners in Indiana. Apprenticeship continues its rise as a popular alternative pathway to licensure, with Montana enacting a bill to bring this new education model to the state. We have worked closely with states to ensure apprenticeship programs are rigorous and closely monitored to make sure massage therapists choosing this pathway are just as qualified for licensure as those who choose the traditional education route. Creating a state exam in place of or in addition to the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) is a new theme we’ve observed the past few years, and it continued in 2025. Arkansas made a move to eliminate the MBLEx. ABMP fought diligently and successfully to kill this outrageous bill.
Although state legislatures are adjourning across the country, there is a possibility that more bills will be introduced and signed into law. Rest assured, your GR team will continue to fight judiciously against bills that seek to devalue and deregulate massage therapy and advocate for laws that will propel your profession to the next level. Whether that means safeguarding educational standards, preventing new and burdensome regulations, or protecting licensing standards, we are here to inform lawmakers on how to enhance your careers and businesses.