Board of cosmetology requirements modification for cosmetologists and hair technicians relating to textured hair
Summary
SF2428 updates Minnesota’s cosmetology licensing and training requirements to explicitly include textured hair instruction for cosmetologists and hair technicians. The bill defines “textured hair” as hair that is coiled, curly, or wavy, and it requires applicants for individual licenses as cosmetologists, hair technicians, managers, or instructors to complete training on the properties of all hair types and textures and to have experience serving people with those hair types and textures.
The bill also revises the required curriculum for hair technician training at Minnesota-licensed cosmetology schools. It keeps the 900-hour training structure but specifies that coursework and clinical instruction must cover all hair types and textures in the theory, cutting and styling, and chemical services portions of the program. In addition, it directs the Board of Cosmetology to set minimum educational standards that include textured hair training in both cosmetologist and hair technician courses. The bill repeals a prior 2024 session law section on the same topic and makes these changes effective August 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 155A.23, 155A.27, 155A.2705, and 155A.30 to embed textured hair training into licensing and educational standards for cosmetologists, hair technicians, managers, and instructors. Its practical effect is to require cosmetology schools and license applicants to demonstrate knowledge and experience with coiled, curly, and wavy hair, which may affect curriculum design, instructor preparation, and licensing compliance for schools and practitioners regulated by the Board of Cosmetology.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be a technical and policy update with a generally supportive purpose: ensuring cosmetology training better reflects the needs of clients with textured hair. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided material, so there is no documented opposition or amendment debate to gauge broader sentiment. The bill’s structure suggests an effort to clarify and standardize requirements rather than to create a controversial new regulatory scheme.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided committee or voting history. The main policy issue implicit in the bill is the scope and specificity of required training: it expands educational obligations for licensees and schools by mandating instruction and experience with all hair types and textures, including textured hair. Any disagreement would likely center on implementation burdens, curriculum changes, or whether the new requirements are sufficiently detailed, but no named opponents or competing viewpoints are included in the record provided.
AN ACT Relating to requiring training for cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, and hair designers on the care, styling, and treatment of textured hair;