HF 2591 Summary

• Authorizes municipalities (towns, cities) to adopt ordinances licensing and inspecting barbering and cosmetology salons to protect public health, safety, and welfare.

• Prohibits municipalities from requiring individual workers in salons to hold occupational licenses or credentials based on education or training qualifications.

• Establishes salon responsibilities including salon owner accountability for employee education and competence, with consumers able to recover attorney fees for injuries in civil actions.

• Repeals all state-level licensing requirements for barbers and cosmetologists, including the Board of Barber Examiners and Board of Cosmetologist Examiners and their regulatory authority.

• Exempts certain facilities (funeral homes, hospitals, nursing homes, theaters) where barbering or cosmetology services are provided as auxiliary services from the new local licensing requirements.