Government Relations

House Bill 1315 attempted to deregulate massage therapy in Mississippi, but died in a house committee March 2, 2021.

Senate Bill 214 removes the provision that English be the sole language for the government in the state of Utah.

Senate File 1074 and House File 1275 would have required statewide licensure for massage therapists and Asian bodywork therapists in Minnesota. However, they were not assigned a committee hearing in this legislative session, so they are done for the year.

House Bill 1016 would have disbanded the Board of Massage Therapy under the Department of Health and created a new Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Massage Therapy, but HB 1016 died in the House.

 Senate Bill 750 and House Bill 1652 were not heard in committee and therefore did not pass this year.

Kentucky House Bill 79 was signed by Governor Beshear March 18, 2021. HB 79 requires criminal background checks and photos to be submitted with applications to practice massage therapy.

All continuing education for even-numbered licenses can now be completed online.

House Bill 1440 was introduced in February 2021 and was amended March 17, 2021. The bill would allow online education for an entire massage therapy training program and in-person education by a master massage therapist or instructor at a spa or massage clinic if the clinic or spa has a relationship with a massage therapy school.

Vermont passed Senate Bill 220 last year, which requires registration of massage therapists. Massage therapists, bodyworkers, and touch professionals must register with the state of Vermont by April 1, 2021.

Effective March 1, 2021, a new rule allows all 24 hours of continuing education credits to be completed online.