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OH HB744

Bill

Status

Introduced

3/10/2026

Primary Sponsor

Jean Schmidt

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

136th General Assembly

AI Summary

  • Requires individuals working as massagers in township-regulated massage establishments to hold a current, valid massage therapy license from the State Medical Board under section 4731.15
  • Exempts certain licensed health professionals from massage therapy licensing requirements, including those authorized under chapters covering cosmetology, barbering, nursing, physician assistants, chiropractic, occupational/physical therapy, and acupuncture, when performing massage within their scope of practice
  • Creates new criminal offense for advertising massage services by unlicensed persons: fourth-degree misdemeanor for first offense, third-degree misdemeanor for subsequent offenses
  • Establishes separate penalties for unlicensed practice of massage therapy: first-degree misdemeanor for first offense, fourth-degree felony for subsequent offenses (compared to fifth-degree felony for unlicensed practice of other branches of medicine)
  • Updates terminology throughout the Ohio Revised Code, replacing "masseur/masseuse" with "massager" and standardizing the definition of "massage therapy" to reference section 4731.04

Legislative Description

Clarify the professionals that may perform massage therapy

Health and Human Services : Health Care

Last Action

Introduced

3/10/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available