Pulse October 2022 | Page 51

JUST OVER A HANDFUL of states remain in legislative session as we move out of summer . Bills that have passed are now headed to the state governors to be signed into law . Below are a few pieces of legislation that have passed during the 2022 state legislative session and have been signed into law .
More states are looking to increase access and remove barriers to obtain a cosmetology license . Colorado House Bill 1725 , sponsored by Representative Shannon Bird , passed and was signed by Governor Jarod Polis . This measure restricts a regulator ’ s ability to deny licensure or registration due to an applicant ’ s criminal history only to situations where the record jeopardizes the applicant ’ s ability to safely practice the profession or for public safety . Other states where bills related to an individual ’ s ability to obtain a license with an unrelated criminal history passed this session include Connecticut , Louisiana , Virginia , and Washington .
Removing barriers continued through increased license portability for military families . Georgia House Bill 884 , sponsored by Representative Dave Belton , passed and was signed by Governor Brian Kemp . This measure authorizes a professional licensing board to issue an expedited license by endorsement to military spouses in the State of Georgia within 90 days of receipt of the application . The application only requires minimum information to ensure the applicant meets the requirements .
In an effort to provide another form of relief to certain licensed professionals , some states are waiving fees for individuals who meet specific criteria . Arizona House Bill 2741 , sponsored by Representative Joanne Osborne , passed and was signed by Governor Doug Ducey . This measure requires agencies to waive fees charged with initial license applications for individuals who meet certain criteria applying for that specific license in the state for the first time . The criteria outlined include active-duty military service member spouses , honorably discharged veterans who have not been discharged more than two years prior to the date of application , or applicants whose family income does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines .
Reducing regulations or reworking regulations for different scopes of practice are also being considered this legislative session . Iowa Senate File 2119 , sponsored by Senator Chris Cournoyer , passed and was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds . This measure allows an individual to engage in threading without a cosmetology license . This measure would also allow for a person to practice in a location other than a salon . This measure defines threading as the removal of hairs from the eyebrows , upper lip , or other body parts by the use of a thread and includes the use of astringents , gels , powders , tweezers , and scissors incidental to the use of a thread . n

To learn more about your state ’ s legislative session , session dates , and bills visit the following sites :

Congress . Gov State Legislature Websites congress . gov / state-legislature-websites
National Conference of State Legislatures 2022 State Legislative Session Calendar ncsl . org / research / about-state-legislatures / 2022-state-legislative-session-calendar . aspx
STATESCAPE
Legislature Links statescape . com / resources / legislative / legislature-links /
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