Massage therapy; transferring certain powers and duties to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners; establishing and modifying certain licensure requirements. Effective date.
SB 545 reorganizes Oklahoma’s regulation of massage therapy by moving the Massage Therapy Practice Act from the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The bill transfers related powers, duties, records, funds, liabilities, administrative rules, and enforcement responsibilities to the new board, and directs the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to coordinate the transition. It also updates statutory definitions and references throughout the massage therapy code to reflect the new regulator.
The bill makes several substantive changes to licensure and oversight. It increases the annual massage therapy license fee to $75, sets education and exam requirements for new applicants, and phases in a higher 600-hour education standard for original licenses beginning July 1, 2027. It also creates a new massage therapy establishment license requirement beginning January 1, 2026, with a $200 application fee, inspection authority, and rulemaking authority over sanitation, recordkeeping, and discipline. The bill expands disciplinary procedures, confidentiality rules for complaints and investigations, and misdemeanor penalties for unlicensed practice or improper advertising.
SB 545 would shift state oversight of massage therapists and massage therapy schools from the cosmetology/barbering board to the chiropractic board, changing which agency licenses, investigates, disciplines, and promulgates rules for the profession. It would also create a new establishment-level licensing regime for massage therapy businesses, authorize routine and complaint-based inspections, and require designated responsibility within multi-therapist establishments. The bill amends multiple sections of Title 59 to conform terminology, update licensure standards, and preserve existing rules under the new board’s jurisdiction.
The available voting history suggests the bill was somewhat divisive rather than broadly unanimous: the Senate DO PASS vote on February 17, 2025 was tied at 5 yeas and 5 nays. No committee transcript excerpts were provided, so there is no recorded discussion to indicate broader support or opposition beyond the close vote. Overall, the bill appears to have generated mixed sentiment, likely reflecting both support for regulatory consolidation and concern over the new licensing and enforcement requirements.
The main points of contention are likely the transfer of authority to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the creation of a mandatory establishment license, and the increased fees and compliance obligations for massage therapists and businesses. The bill also tightens education standards over time, adds inspection authority, and expands disciplinary and criminal enforcement, all of which may be viewed as burdensome by practitioners or business owners. On the other hand, supporters may see the changes as improving professional oversight, public safety, and consistency in regulation.