Governor Daniel McKee signed into law House Bill 7738 and Senate Bill 2625 in late June, increasing minimum education hours and continuing education requirements. Find out the new state requirements.
Legislative Updates
The Ohio legislature adopted Senate Bill 56 on June 21, becoming the second state to enact the Interstate Massage Compact. Massage therapists will soon be able to obtain a multistate license that will reduce holdups and delays that often occur when moving to a different state.
At the beginning of 2024, 23 states had a 500-hour minimum education requirement. Six months into 2024, bills have been introduced, rules have been proposed, and there has been significant progress to ensure students retain access to federal aid. Find out which states have raised minimum massage education hours.
What are the next steps?
A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction that halts the enforcement of the US Department of Education’s new Bare Minimum Rule, also known as the “100% rule,” until the court takes further action. This is the first step in what could be a lengthy battle to ultimately delay enforcement of the rule, providing schools more time to adjust their programmatic standards, or overturn the rule altogether. Find out more and what your school needs to do to prepare.
Governor Jared Polis signed into law House Bill 24-1371, requiring local government (counties, cities, or municipalities) to conduct periodic criminal background checks for massage establishment operators, owners, and employees.
On May 15, 2024, Governor Kay Ivey signed into law Senate Bill 137, terminating the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy and its functions to create the new Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board. Learn key takeaways from the bill and how its passage may affect you.
The State Department of Health and the Washington Massage Board are seeking licensed massage therapists to fill professional member vacancies. Apply before the June 30 deadline.
On June 6, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law Senate Bill 201, raising the state’s minimum massage education hours from 500 to 650.
In May, Governor Wes Moore signed into law two bills affecting massage therapy. House Bill 1497 allows instrument-assisted techniques, amends the license reinstatement process, and adds a new requirement for some licensure applicants. House Bill 1498 addresses unauthorized practice violations.