News

A new bill, Oregon SB 298, has been introduced in the Oregon Senate that proposes to regulate bodywork practitioners in same manner that Oregon law currently regulates massage therapists.  Under the bill, those practicing bodywork would be required to obtain a state license, just as massage practitioners are currently required to do.  “Bodywork” is defined in the bill as:  “any form of touch therapy that uses manipulation, movement, energy or repatterning to produce structural and functiona

Currently, massage therapists in Indiana are governed by the professional licensing standards of practice set forth in Indiana Code 25-1-11.  Under a new bill recently introduced in the Indiana legislature, HB 1360, massage therapists would instead be governed by the health professions standards of practice set forth in Indiana Code 25-1-9.  This change would

A new bill introduced in the Washington state legislature, HB 1252, would amend the state’s massage therapy law by imposing new criminal penalties on massage and reflexology business owners who allow unlicensed practice in their businesses.  The bill states that any person who, “with knowledge or criminal negligence,” allows the unlicensed practice of massage or reflexology in his or her massage or reflexology business is guilty of a gross misdemeanor for the first violation, and a class C felony fo

Nevada AB 126, recently introduced in the state legislature, proposes to make several changes to the state’s massage therapy law.  Among those proposed changes are:

The members of the Alaska Board of Massage Therapists have been appointed by the Governor, and the Board held its first Board meeting on February 5 and 6, 2015.  Information about the Board, and the agenda for the February Board meeting, can be found here. 

New bills affecting the reflexology and massage therapy professions have been introduced in the New York State legislature this session.

As mentioned in our prior update, the Minnesota voluntary credentialing bill for massage therapists did not pass in 2014.  However, the bill has been reintroduced this year in the Minnesota House of Representatives as House File 644. Representative Nick Zerwas is the chief author and there are over 25 co-authors.

If passed, the bill would:

Two bills have recently been introduced in North Dakota that could impact licensed massage therapists in the state.

Idaho H23 was recently introduced in the Idaho legislature.   Under this bill, an Idaho massage license would not be required for practitioners licensed in another state who are "practicing on clients participating in organized athletic events or affiliated with or employed by established athletic teams, athletic organizations or performing arts companies temporarily practicing, competing or performing in [Idaho] for no more than sixty (60) days in a calendar year."  ABMP supports H23 and we will keep you up to date on

A new bill, HI HB 1390, has been introduced in the Hawaii House of Representatives which, if passed, would add two new categories for massage therapists in Hawaii: “certified massage therapist” and “massage therapy assistant.” The current licensed massage therapist (LMT) category would remain in place as well.