COSMETOLOGY: Provides relative to alternative hair design and natural hair braiding
HB 509 establishes distinct regulatory pathways for "alternative hair design" and "natural hair braiding" services. It creates an "alternative hair design certificate of registration" for services performed in licensed salons, requiring 500-600 hours of instruction and a board-approved examination. Separately, the bill introduces a "natural hair braiding special permit" for services conducted outside registered salons, such as in a residence. Applicants for this special permit must view an instructional video, pay fees, and pass a 20-question examination on topics like infection control. The bill defines the scope of each practice, outlining permitted techniques and explicitly excluding chemical treatments like dyeing or straightening from both categories.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 4, 2025
Last action May 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB509 Reengrossed
→
HB509 Engrossed
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5 edits
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May 13, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was reclassified from 'Reengrossed' to 'Engrossed,' indicating it has passed all legislative stages and is ready for final action. The most significant substantive change is the redefinition of 'alternative hair design' to include a broader range of techniques like twisting and weaving, while explicitly removing the requirement for services to be performed in a licensed salon. Additionally, the bill now establishes natural hair braiding as an 'unregulated service,' exempting it from standard cosmetology board oversight, and introduces a new special permit system for practitioners working outside of registered shops.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include more hair styling techniques and explicitly exempted natural hair braiding from cosmetology regulation, shifting it from a regulated profession to an unregulated service.
DEFINITION
Redefined 'alternative hair design' to include twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding, and removed the requirement that it must occur in a licensed salon.
Added a new definition for 'unregulated service' to clarify that natural hair braiding is exempt from cosmetology board regulation.
REQUIREMENT
Created a new special permit category for alternative hair designers who wish to work outside of registered beauty shops or salons.
Removed the requirement for an 'alternative hair design certificate of registration' for those working in registered shops, simplifying the licensing structure.
SCOPE
Changed the bill's purpose statement to reflect the establishment of natural hair braiding as an unregulated service rather than focusing solely on certificates and permits.
Floor votes · House May 13, 2025
How they voted
83–6
Passed · 12 other
Total votes 101
May 13, 2025
D
Democratic30
66% Yea
R
Republican71
88% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
25
Key actions
2
Committee
3
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 86, nays 6. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (10-5).
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Commerce.
lower
Apr 4, 2025
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Commerce.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Pat Moore
DDemocratic
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