On February 14 we notified you of Arkansas House Bill 1394 (HB1394), a bill to remove the tuberculosis (TB) test requirement to obtain or renew a massage therapy license.
Legislative Updates
Legislators in Maryland are considering Senate Bill 554 (SB554), which would grant more power to county-level government entities to allow them to create massage establishment licensure requirements.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law New Mexico Senate Bill 200. This law amends the Massage Therapy Practice Act in several ways. The law now includes a definition of continuing education (CE) and continuing education providers.
Arkansas House Bill 1394 (HB1394) is quickly moving through the legislature. HB1394 removes the requirement of a tuberculosis test for massage therapists to get licensed.
Senators in Minnesota are reviewing Senate File 696 (SF 696), a bill that would allow eyelash technicians and salons that solely provide eyelash extensions to operate without being licensed.
In Iowa, House File 188 (HF188), has been introduced to remove the licensure requirement for massage therapists. It also expands the current law to penalize an individual or business who advertises or represents an unlicensed individual as being licensed.
A bill has been introduced in Maine, HB 0255, that would define licensed massage therapists as health care practitioners.
The Oklahoma Advisory Massage Therapy Board worked over the past year to update the Massage Practice Act. A committee was formed to draft new legislation that would open grandfathering for those who didn't meet the licensing window when licensing was in effect a few years ago and update some language.
HB 1082 would require all licensed massage therapists and certified reflexologists to carry a government-issued photo identification with them at all times when practicing.
ABMP's Government Relations Director Laura Embleton was recently in Washington for the recent meeting of the Board of Massage, which has several updates.