Relates to requiring a licensed massage therapist to present a state issued photo identification card when requested

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Weprin

Requires training and testing on textured hair in NJ cosmetology programs and exams to ensure practitioners are competent with coiled, curly, and wavy hair.

REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES

Purpose

To ensure cosmetology-related educational programs and licensing examinations in New Jersey include instruction and testing on textured hair (defined in the bill as hair that is coiled, curly, or wavy), and to add Board representation with relevant experience. The bill aims to improve practitioner competence in serving clients with textured hair.

Key provisions

Requires the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to establish curriculum requirements, to be included in existing programs at licensed schools that train students in:

Cosmetology‑hairstyling
Beauty culture
Barbering
Hair braiding

Curriculum content must cover working with textured hair, including:

Various coil, curl, and wave patterns
Hair strand thickness
Volumes (amount/density) of hair

The textured‑hair material is to be incorporated into the current curriculum and is explicitly not intended to increase the total number of training hours for each profession.

Licensing examinations (both written and practical portions) for cosmetology‑hairstyling, beauty culture, barbering, and hair braiding must include textured hair as subject matter.

Committee amendment (added Nov. 24, 2025): one member of the State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling must have experience and training providing services to individuals with textured hair.

Defines “textured hair” as hair that is coiled, curly, or wavy.

Who is affected

Students enrolled in licensed cosmetology, beauty culture, barbering, and hair braiding programs in New Jersey.

Licensed and aspiring cosmetologists, hairstylists, beauticians, barbers, and hair braiders (exam content and licensure requirements).

Licensed schools (curriculum adjustments) and the State Board (rulemaking, exam content, and Board composition).

Consumers may benefit from practitioners with standardized training on textured hair.

Procedural status and timeline highlights

Introduced: Feb 27, 2024 (Assembly; sponsor: Asm. David Weprin).

Reported by Assembly Regulated Professions Committee: May 13, 2024.

Reported by Assembly Labor Committee: June 16, 2025.

Referred to Higher Education and later to other committees (print number 3882A noted May 23, 2025).

Nov 24, 2025: Transferred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee; committee amended bill to add Board-member requirement, reported with amendments and referred to Appropriations.

May 28, 2025: Reported and referred to Codes (legislative processing entries indicate movement through multiple committees).

Potential impacts and considerations

Expected educational and professional benefit: more consistent competency in serving clients with textured hair.

Administrative effects: State Board and licensed schools will need to update curricula and examination content; costs likely limited (bill states no increase in required hours).

Regulatory change: Board composition change may require nomination/appointment adjustments to satisfy the new experience requirement.

Companion bill: S2495. Prior-session and related bills noted (S8192, S3097, S375, A6757).

Bill