Bill to Require Licensing of Massage Therapists Fails in Kansas

House Bill 2187 failed to pass the state legislature. The bill would have set minimum training requirements, defined a scope of practice, provided an avenue for consumer complaints, and pre-empted local regulations. If passed, the bill would have required massage therapists to become licensed by the state under the Kansas State Board of Nursing, and would have established a Massage Therapy Advisory Committee to advise the Board in carrying out the provisions of the Act. Progress was made this year in educating both the public and the state legislature about massage therapy regulation in Kansas and nationwide. In addition, as a result of dialog and negotiations with massage practitioners once opposed to the bill, there is better understanding and consensus moving forward. We expect a new bill to license massage therapists to be introduced next year.