SB 1656 Arizona Senate · 57th Legislature - First Regular Session

massage therapy; continuation; study committee

SB 1656 terminates Arizona's Board of Massage Therapy on July 1, 2027, and establishes a study committee to examine whether the board should continue in its current form, combine with other boards, or make structural changes. The committee, including legislators, massage therapy representatives, law enforcement, and licensing boards, will study issues like background check processes, an IT system implemented in 2025, and whether requiring establishment licenses could combat sex trafficking. It must submit recommendations by December 31, 2026, to the legislature. The bill directly affects licensed massage therapists, massage therapy schools, and state licensing oversight, but does not change current licensing requirements.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Last action Jun 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

House Engrossed Version → Senate Engrossed Version · 5 edits · Mar 6, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was revised between House and Senate versions to change the termination date for the Board of Massage Therapy from July 1, 2031 to July 1, 2027, and to establish a new study committee to evaluate whether the board should continue, remain independent, or be combined with another agency. The Senate version also removed unrelated provisions about school construction fees and the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission that were included in the House version. These changes narrow the bill's focus to massage therapy oversight and accelerate the timeline for reviewing the board's future.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from covering multiple state boards and commissions to focusing primarily on the Board of Massage Therapy and its continuation study. The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission and other unrelated boards were removed from the bill's sunset provisions.

TIMELINE

The termination date for the Board of Massage Therapy was changed from July 1, 2031 to July 1, 2027, accelerating the timeline for legislative review of the board's future.

The sunset review report deadline for the massage therapy study committee was set to December 31, 2026, with the section repealing after June 30, 2027.

REQUIREMENT

A new study committee was created consisting of six legislators, two executive directors, and three industry representatives to evaluate whether the Board of Massage Therapy should continue, remain independent, or be combined with another agency.

Provisions requiring the Board of Massage Therapy to submit a report on technology implementation and sex trafficking prevention were removed in the Senate version.

SCOPE

Provisions related to school construction fees, the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, and several other state boards were removed from the bill, narrowing its focus to massage therapy oversight.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2025

How they voted

22–4

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 30

Mar 6, 2025

D Democratic13

10 Yea 3

76% Yea

R Republican17

12 Yea 4 Nay 1

70% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED

upper

Mar 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

DPA

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

DPA

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors