Bill
SB 808
The bill shifts to certification-based natural hair care, eliminates apprentice licenses, creates a hair designer license, and converts existing licenses without new exams or fees.
Status and Purpose
- Bill Number: SB 808
- Session: 2025; Filed April 21, 2026
- Primary goal: Deregulate certain cosmetic services, create new licensing tracks (hair designers), reduce training hours, and end licensure by apprenticeship. Implemented per recommendations of the Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee.
- Effective date: Sections 1 and 2 take effect October 1, 2026; remaining provisions become effective when the act becomes law.
What the bill would change (key provisions)
1) Deregulation and new licensing categories
- Eliminates the apprentice license and natural hair care license (transition to alternative certifications and licensures).
- Introduces a new license for hair designers (instead of the apprentice pathway for certain services).
- Maintains a regulatory framework for cosmetology, esthetics, manicuring, and related specialties but restructures credentials.
2) Transition provisions (Transition from old licenses to new certifications)
- Natural Hair Care Specialists:
- Automatic conversion: All current natural hair care licenses as of Oct 1, 2026 convert to an infection control certification at no cost.
- Pending applications: If a natural hair care specialist license application is pending on Oct 1, 2026, it converts to an infection control certification if the applicant completes at least 300 hours of natural hair care, and pays required fees.
- Apprentices:
- Automatic conversion: All current apprentice licenses as of Oct 1, 2026 convert to cosmetologist licenses without new exams or fees.
- Pending applications: Any apprentice license applications pending by Oct 1, 2026 may be granted as a cosmetologist license if they meet 1,000 hours of cosmetology, pass Board examination, and pay fees.
- Renewal: Renewals for former apprentices would continue as cosmetologist licenses without added qualifications after conversion.
3) Rulemaking and public information
- The Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners must adopt rules to implement these transitions.
- The Board must publicly post information on its website about:
- Elimination of the apprentice license and transition to cosmetologist licensure.
- Elimination of the natural hair care specialist license and transition to certification.
- Requirement for the infection control course for newly certified natural hair care specialists.
- Access to at least one free Board-approved infection control course.
4) Additional procedural elements
- The Board’s broad authority remains for licensure, certification, examinations, school/ shop approvals, and enforcement.
- Other sections maintain existing regulatory tools (inspections, fees, continuing education, and penalties).
Who would be affected
Summary of timeline and impact
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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