SB 163 Alabama Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering; adoption of Esthetics Licensure Compact

Alabama's SB 163 would adopt the Esthetics Licensure Compact, allowing estheticians licensed in Alabama to practice across participating states without obtaining separate licenses. This compact directly affects licensed estheticians, particularly military members and their spouses who relocate frequently, by creating a multistate license valid in all participating states. Key provisions establish uniform licensing requirements, enable states to share disciplinary information, and require background checks to maintain public safety standards. The bill aims to reduce licensing barriers while ensuring consistent professional practice and safety across state lines.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Jan 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 6 edits · Apr 6, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and enrolled, changing its status from 'Introduced' to 'Enrolled'. The text was reorganized to remove redundant introductory material and consolidate the legal definitions into a single, continuous section. This ensures the final version of the Esthetics Licensure Compact is ready for official enactment without conflicting page headers or duplicate content.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains the same as the introduced version; it continues to establish a multistate licensing framework for estheticians in Alabama.

TECHNICAL

Removed duplicate page headers and introductory bill text that appeared in the 'Introduced' draft, consolidating the document into a clean, single version.

DEFINITION

Reordered and merged the list of legal definitions to ensure a logical flow from the purpose of the compact to the specific terms used throughout the law.

Added a new definition for 'ENCUMBRANCE' to clarify what constitutes a restriction on a license.

Added a new definition for 'ESTHETICS' to provide a clear scope of services covered by the compact.

Updated the definition of 'ACTIVE DUTY' to explicitly include members of the National Guard and Reserve.

Expanded the definition of 'ADVERSE ACTION' to include cease and desist orders.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1088

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Boards, Agencies and Commissions)

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 165

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety)

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors