HB 273 Kentucky House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to barbering.

Summary
Amend KRS 317.430, relating to the Kentucky Board of Barbering, to add the executive director of the board as a nonvoting member; amend KRS 317.450 to remove language regarding good moral character and temperate habit requirements; reduce length of experience from 3 years to 1 year for certain out-of-state applicants; amend KRS 317.470 to change the title of "administrator" to "executive director"; amend KRS 317.540, relating to barber schools to reduce the number of required hours of course instruction from 1,500 to 1,200; increase the maximum number of hours allowed per day from 8 to 10 hours; make technical changes.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 8, 2026 Last action Mar 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Current/Final · 7 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from a Board Bill to a General Assembly Bill and significantly restructured the definitions and qualifications for barbers. The most critical change is the removal of the requirement for board members to have at least 23 years of age and 5 years of experience, lowering barriers for appointment. Additionally, the definition of 'barbering' was expanded to include services like scalp massages and hair dyeing, while specific exemptions for medical professionals were clarified.
Scope change
The scope of regulated activities was expanded to include additional services such as facial/scalp massages, shampooing, pressing, arranging, dressing, styling, dyeing, and applying tonics or cosmetics to the neck or head.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'barbering' was expanded to explicitly include facial and scalp massages, treatments with oils or creams, shampooing, pressing, arranging, dressing, styling, dyeing, applying tonics, and applying lotions, powders, oils, clays, or other preparations to the neck or head.

The definition of 'barber' was updated to include anyone engaging in barbering for the public generally or for consideration, removing previous restrictions.

New definitions were added for 'independent contract owner' and 'lapse fees' to clarify the status of those who lease booth space and the fees associated with expired licenses.

ELIGIBILITY

The requirement for voting board members to be at least 23 years of age and have at least 5 years of experience in the practice of barbering was removed.

REQUIREMENT

The apprentice licensing requirements were streamlined; the previous requirement for a high school diploma or equivalent was removed, and the list of qualifying conditions was reorganized.

EXEMPTIONS

Exemptions for medical professionals were clarified to include commissioned medical or surgical personnel of the US Armed Forces performing incidental practices.

TECHNICAL

The bill was renumbered from '26 RS BR 1436' to '26 RS HB 273/GA', indicating a shift in legislative process or sponsorship.

Floor votes · House Mar 16, 2026

How they voted

1001
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 105
Mar 16, 2026
D Democratic21
19 Yea 2
90% Yea
R Republican84
81 Yea 1 Nay 2
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Mar 17, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 95-1 with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Committee
to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
lower
Jan 8, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Jan 8, 2026
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.