FEES/LICENSES/PERMITS: Provides for the licensed profession of massage therapy. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Beth Mizell

SB 39 creates a provisional massage therapy license for graduates, valid for three months, requiring facilities with licensed therapists and client disclosure of licensure status.

Effective date 8/1/2026.

Bill Summary: SB 39 (Louisiana) – 2026 Session

Main purpose and intent

SB 39 proposes to regulate the licensed profession of massage therapy by establishing a provisional licensing pathway for new graduates and clarifying supervision and disclosure requirements in facilities that employ provisionally licensed massage therapists. The bill eliminates the sunset provision that previously terminated provisional licensing at a specific date, extending the program’s availability.

Key provisions and changes

Provisional license for graduates: The board must make available to graduates of a state-approved Louisiana-based school for massage therapy a provisional license that can be used immediately upon graduation at a massage therapy business registered with the board.

Term and renewal: The provisional license remains active for a single three-month term and shall not be renewed.

Facility disclosure obligation: Any facility employing a massage therapist working under a provisional license must inform clients of the licensure status of the provisionally licensed therapist before services are provided.

Employment restrictions: Provisionally licensed therapists may only work at facilities that also employ licensed massage therapists (i.e., the facility must have at least one licensed massage therapist on staff).

Sunset provision: The bill keeps the existing framework from current law but removes the sunset trigger that previously ended the provisional licensing provision on December 31, 2025.

Effective date: August 1, 2026.

Administrative citation: The bill adds a specific statutory directive to add a new provision (R.S. 37:3556(F)) governing provisional licenses.

Who or what would be affected

Affected entities include:

Graduates of state-approved Louisiana massage therapy programs who seek a provisional license.
Massage therapy businesses registered with the Louisiana State Board of Massage Therapy.
Facilities employing massage therapists, who must disclose provisional licensure status to clients.
The regulatory board responsible for massage therapy licensing (for implementation and oversight of the provisional license framework).

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative history indicates committee amendments that streamline language (enactment terminology) and insert clarifying terms around client notification.

The bill passed Senate committee and progressed through the regular legislative process with concurrent Senate consideration.

Effective date for the law, if enacted, is August 1, 2026.

Potential impact and considerations

Provisional licensure could help new graduates begin practicing more quickly while awaiting full licensure, potentially expanding workforce capacity in the short term.

The three-month limit and non-renewable nature maintain a controlled pathway to licensure, emphasizing the need for eventual full licensure.

Mandatory client disclosure increases transparency about a therapist’s licensure status, potentially affecting client interactions and perceived qualifications.

The requirement that provisionally licensed therapists work only at facilities with licensed therapists promotes supervision and patient safety.

Overall, SB 39 seeks to balance workforce entry for new graduates with accountability and consumer protection through disclosure and supervision in Louisiana’s massage therapy licensing regime.