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SB 1363

Barbering and cosmetology.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Aisha Wahab

SB 1363 broadens and tightens regulation of licensed beauty establishments, expands apprenticeship oversight, and permits tribal licensure under state standards.

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
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Bill Summary · SB 1363

Overview

SB 1363, introduced by Senator Wahab (California, 2025-2026 Regular Session), seeks to modify and expand the Barbering and Cosmetology Act. The bill extends the regulatory framework for licensing establishments, expands who may be charged with illegal practice, reorganizes apprenticeship oversight, and clarifies tribal participation in licensing. It introduces new definitions, governance timelines, and on-the-job training rules while retaining a focus on health and safety in licensed cosmetology fields.

Purpose and intent

  • Extend the lifespan and scope of the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology beyond 2027, and ultimately shift certain governance provisions to 2031.
  • Improve regulation of establishments that host licensed activities (barbering, cosmetology, electrology, esthetics, hairstyling, manicuring).
  • formalize and expand apprenticeship programs, including sponsor approval and oversight, to align with Shelley-Maloney standards.
  • Recognize federally recognized tribes as eligible licensees/establishments under certain conditions and clarify tribal jurisdiction and non-overlap with state registration requirements.
  • Strengthen enforcement against unlicensed activity, establish trainer and establishment responsibilities for apprentices, and set clear disciplinary pathways.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment licensing and good standing

    • Establishments that host licensed activity must obtain an establishment license (extending the rule through January 1, 2031).
    • Partnerships and LLCs operating such establishments must apply for establishment licenses.
    • Corporations/LLCs must be registered and in good standing with the Secretary of State; failure to remain in good standing can result in license suspension.
    • Federally recognized tribes may be licensed by the board if they apply and meet license requirements, with an exemption from Secretary of State registration/good-standing requirements for participating tribes.

  • Unlicensed practice

    • Expands the unlawful practice prohibition to include partnerships and LLCs engaged in regulated activities (beyond individuals and traditional business forms).

  • Apprenticeship reform and oversight

    • Apprenticeship program sponsors (joint committees, unilateral management committees, labor committees, or individual employers) must obtain board approval to administer apprenticeships in barbering, cosmetology, or electrology.
    • Applicants must be approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) first, and provide detailed training outlines, sponsor-apprentice agreements, and local educational agency (LEA) agreements.
    • Board approval for sponsors lasts two years and is renewable; sponsors must notify the board of changes within 10 days.
    • New sections (7332.1 and 7332.2) create sponsor governance, standards, and grounds for suspension/denial (unprofessional conduct, noncompliance with apprenticeship rules, false statements, etc.).
    • Apprenticeship training must comply with the Shelley-Maloney Apprentice Labor Standards Act; no fees may be charged beyond textbook/minimum equipment costs; apprentices must be supervised and cannot be the sole worker in an establishment.
    • On-the-job training credits may be provided by a board-approved licensed trainer or establishment under specified conditions (presence during services, record-keeping, wages, and insurance requirements).

  • Apprenticeship accountability and placement

    • Trainers and establishments providing on-the-job training must certify no outstanding fines or disciplinary actions.
    • Non-compliance with apprenticeship requirements can trigger disciplinary action, fines, or prohibition from hiring future apprentices.

  • Labor law disclosures and location-specific licensing

    • Establishments must acknowledge awareness of applicable labor laws; renewal applications must include such acknowledgments.
    • Licensed establishments may be restricted to the location for which the license is issued unless a new license is secured for a different location.

  • Tribal considerations

    • 7315.5 establishes a framework for recognizing participating tribes, their right to licensure for regulated activities, and clarifies that state licensing authority does not encroach on tribal jurisdiction.

Affected parties

  • Establishments where barbering, cosmetology, electrology, esthetics, hairstyling, or manicuring is practiced (new and existing establishments).
  • Individual licensees (barbers, cosmetologists, electrologists, estheticians, hairstylists, manicurists) and their on-the-job training arrangements.
  • Apprentices and apprenticeship sponsors (employers, LEAs, and joint/unilateral committees).
  • The State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (board) and its executive officer, examiners, and inspectors.
  • Federally recognized tribes or tribal entities seeking licensure to operate licensed establishments.
  • Secretary of State (for corporate registration and good standing).
  • Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) as a prerequisite approval body for apprenticeship sponsors.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The existing Board structure is set to extend to January 1, 2031 (from the current 2027 sunset).
  • New and amended sections introduce two-year sponsor-approval cycles, with renewals and ongoing compliance reporting.
  • Definitions for “Federally recognized tribe” and “Participating tribe” establish a process for tribal licensure and clarify non-regulatory reach on tribal activities outside state jurisdiction.
  • Health and safety enforcement remains a consideration in fines and remedial education, with regulatory costs potentially allocated for remedial programs.

Potential impact

  • Businesses and organizations operating licensed beauty establishments will need to ensure corporate registrations and good standing with the Secretary of State, or risk license suspension.
  • Tribes could operate licensed barbering/cosmetology activities in California under state licensure, provided they meet applicable license standards.
  • Apprenticeship programs will require formal board approval and DAS validation, potentially increasing regulatory oversight but providing a structured pathway for training.
  • Clearer enforcement mechanisms may deter unlicensed practice and improve compliance with health, safety, and labor standards.

Note: This summary focuses on the substantive provisions and likely impacts based on the bill text as introduced and amended. For precise regulatory language and implementation details, refer to the official bill text and the Legislative Counsel’s digest.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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