2023 Highlights from the ABMP Government Relations Team

12/28/2023

The US Capitol and the year 2023 next to it.

The ABMP Government Relations team had a busy year advocating for members and the massage and bodywork profession as a whole. Here are the team’s legislative highlights from 2023:

Supported the Interstate Massage Compact that was introduced in the following states: Georgia, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Washington, and Wisconsin (Nevada signed the compact bill into law)
Championed massage licensing efforts in Minnesota (Senate File 967 and House File 973) and Kansas (Senate Bill 305)
Defended the protection of the MBLEx as the national massage therapy licensing testing standard
Opposed massage establishment licensure to avoid double licensing in numerous states, including New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia 
Advocated for changes in June regarding proposed Gainful Employment rules; encouraged schools to push for change once final rules were released in October that amended the “150%” Rule, jeopardizing student access to federal aid

Topics Anticipated for 2024:

Supporting licensure bills
Backing massage compact bills
Protecting entry-level examination
Advocating for reasonable education hours

Ohio Adopts Interstate Massage Compact

06/28/2024

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.

US Department of Education 150% Rule Update

06/24/2024

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.

Colorado Bill Requires Local Background Checks

06/21/2024

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.