Colorado

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 June 6, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law Senate Bill 201, raising the state’s minimum massage education hours from 500 to 650.

ABMP is seeking volunteers to provide complimentary chair massage to Colorado state legislators at the Capitol from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 22. Email us if you're interested!

House Bill 22-1300 allows counties, cities, and towns in Colorado to adopt local ordinances. The intent is to prevent human trafficking-related offenses to occur in illicit businesses that represent themselves as massage establishments. The bill takes effect August 10, 2022.

Governor Polis signed into law House Bill 22-1226, which extended massage therapy licensing requirements until September 1, 2031. No substantial changes were recommended or adopted.

Boulder County Public Health issued a public health order requiring facial coverings to be worn in public indoor spaces throughout Boulder County, Colorado, during periods of substantial or high transmission of COVID-19.

On November 17, 2020, Governor Polis issued Executive Order D 2020 235, which goes into effect November 20, 2020. This order places a number of counties on Red Tier.

The Government Relations team that represents ABMP, ASCP, AHP, and ANP has been working with the Governor's office and DORA and received Governor Polis's April 27, 2020, guidance, which allows for massage therapists, estheticians, and cosmetologists to return to work May 1, 2020. https://covid19.colorado.gov/safer-at-home/safer-at-home-personal-services

There have been many changes in the massage therapy and cosmetology industries and communities in response to COVID-19 (coronavirus), from executive orders affecting businesses, to distance learning modifying the student experience. ABMP, ASCP, AHP, and ANP have summarized below how COVID-19 has impacted the licensing regulations and laws in the state of Colorado, and we encourage you to look at the information regarding the economic assistance information outlined at the bottom of this email, which addresses financial aid, unemployment benefits, and other programs.

The Colorado Department of Regulation (DORA), Office of Massage Therapy Licensure will hold a Stakeholder Meeting on Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at 1:30 pm to discuss proposed Massage Therapy Rules 4, Rule 5 and Rule 13. Per the notice sent out by the state, "stakeholder input is crucial to achieving the Department's missions of consumer protection and effective licensure and enforcement, without unnecessary impediment to the economic market."  We encourage you to attend the meeting if you're interested in the rulemaking process and would like to be heard.