As Introduced

136th General Assembly

Regular Session S. B. No. 289

2025-2026

Senator Hicks-Hudson

Cosponsors: Senators Antonio, Craig

To amend section 4713.08 and to enact section 4713.47 of the Revised Code to establish a natural hair stylist education grant program and to make an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That section 4713.08 be amended and section 4713.47 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 4713.08. (A) The state cosmetology and barber board shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code as necessary to implement this chapter. The rules shall do all of the following:

(1) Govern the practice of the branches of cosmetology;

(2) Specify conditions an individual must satisfy to qualify for a temporary pre-examination work permit under section 4713.22 of the Revised Code and the conditions and method of renewing a temporary pre-examination work permit under that section;

(3) Provide for the conduct of examinations under section 4713.24 of the Revised Code;

(4) Specify conditions under which the board will take into account, under section 4713.32 of the Revised Code, instruction an applicant for a license under section 4713.28, 4713.30, or 4713.31 of the Revised Code received more than five years before the date of application for the license;

(5) Provide for the granting of waivers under section 4713.29 of the Revised Code;

(6) Specify conditions an applicant must satisfy for the board to issue the applicant a license under section 4713.34 of the Revised Code without the applicant taking an examination conducted under section 4713.24 of the Revised Code;

(7) Specify locations in which glamour photography services in which a branch of cosmetology is practiced may be provided;

(8) Establish conditions and the fee for a temporary special occasion work permit under section 4713.37 of the Revised Code and specify the amount of time such a permit is valid;

(9) Specify conditions an applicant must satisfy for the board to issue the applicant an independent contractor license under section 4713.39 of the Revised Code and the fee for issuance and renewal of the license;

(10) Establish conditions under which food may be sold at a salon;

(11) Specify which professions regulated by a professional regulatory board of this state may be practiced in a salon under section 4713.42 of the Revised Code, including whether cosmetic therapy may be practiced in a salon;

(12) Establish standards for the provision of cosmetic therapy, massage therapy, or other professional service in a salon pursuant to section 4713.42 of the Revised Code;

(13) Establish standards for board approval of, and the granting of credits for, training in branches of cosmetology or barbering at schools licensed in this state;

(14) Establish the manner in which a school licensed under section 4713.44 of the Revised Code may offer post-secondary and advanced practice programs;

(15) Establish infection control standards for the practice of the branches of cosmetology and the operation of salons and schools;

(16) Establish the application process for obtaining a tanning facility permit under section 4713.48 of the Revised Code, including the amount of the fee for an initial or renewed permit;

(17) Establish standards for installing and operating a tanning facility in a manner that ensures the health and safety of consumers, including infection control standards and standards that do all of the following:

(a) Establish a maximum safe time of exposure to radiation and a maximum safe temperature at which sun lamps may be operated;

(b) Require consumers to wear protective eyeglasses;

(c) Require consumers to be supervised as to the length of time consumers use the facility's sun lamps;

(d) Require the operator to prohibit consumers from standing too close to sun lamps and to post signs warning consumers of the potential effects of radiation on individuals taking certain medications and of the possible relationship of the radiation to skin cancer;

(e) Require the installation of protective shielding for sun lamps and handrails for consumers;

(f) Require floors to be dry during operation of lamps;

(g) Establish procedures an operator must follow in making reasonable efforts in compliance with section 4713.50 of the Revised Code to determine the age of an individual seeking to use sun lamp tanning services.

(18) If the board, under section 4713.61 of the Revised Code, develops a procedure for classifying licenses inactive, do both of the following:

(a) Establish a fee for having a license classified inactive that reflects the cost to the board of providing the inactive license service;

(b) Specify the continuing education that an individual whose license has been classified inactive must complete to have the license restored. The continuing education shall be sufficient to ensure the minimum competency in the use or administration of a new procedure or product required by a licensee necessary to protect public health and safety. The requirement shall not exceed the cumulative number of hours of continuing education that the individual would have been required to complete had the individual retained an active license.

(19) Establish a fee for approval of a continuing education program under section 4713.62 of the Revised Code that is adequate to cover any expense the board incurs in the approval process;

(20) Establish requirements for students of schools who are engaged in learning the theory and practice of barbering;

(21) Establish the minimum student-instructor ratio that a school offering instruction in the theory and practice of barbering must meet;

(22) Establish procedures for administering the natural hair stylist education grant program established under section 4713.47 of the Revised Code;

(23) Anything else necessary to implement this chapter.

(B) The rules adopted under division (A)(2) of this section may establish additional conditions for a temporary pre-examination work permit under section 4713.22 of the Revised Code that are applicable to individuals who practice a branch of cosmetology in another state or country.

(C) The conditions specified in rules adopted under division (A)(6) of this section may include that an applicant is applying for a license to practice a branch of cosmetology for which the board determines an examination is unnecessary.

(D) The rules adopted under division (A)(11) of this section shall not include a profession if practice of the profession in a salon is a violation of a statute or rule governing the profession.

(E) The infection control standards established under division (A)(15) of this section shall focus in particular on precautions to be employed to prevent infectious or contagious diseases being created or spread.

(F) The fee established by rules adopted under division (A)(16) of this section shall cover the cost the board incurs in inspecting tanning facilities and enforcing the board's rules but may not exceed one hundred dollars per location of such facilities.

Sec. 4713.47. (A) The state cosmetology and barber board shall establish and administer a grant program to increase the number of students engaged in learning or acquiring knowledge of the practice of natural hair styling at a school. Under the program, the board may award a grant to a school to offer any of the following:

(1) A course of practical training and technical instruction for natural hair styling under division (A)(1) of section 4713.44 of the Revised Code;

(2) Post-secondary programs or advanced practice programs to broaden a licensee's knowledge of and skill set in natural hair styling, if the school offers a course described in division (A)(1) of this section;

(3) Seminars or workshops focused on hair care techniques and management of textured hair and cultural sensitivity, in collaboration with experts in the practice or teaching of natural hair styling and educators of diversity training.

(B) A school seeking to participate in the grant program shall apply to the board in the form and manner prescribed by the board.

(C) A school awarded a grant to offer a post-secondary program or advanced practice program under division (A)(2) of this section may include any of the following topics as part of the program:

(1) The science and anatomy of different hair textures and care practices for textured hair, based on the books and other teachings of Dr. Willie Morrow;

(2) Training in styling techniques for textured hair, such as braiding, locking, twisting, weaving, or other natural, protective, or cultural hair styles;

(3) Training in hair and scalp care for textured hair, such as treatment options including deep conditioning and hot oil massages or other services to improve moisture retention, curl definition, or hair strengthening;

(4) The significance of hair care for textured hair and natural, protective, or cultural hair styles.

(D) The board shall adopt rules under section 4713.08 of the Revised Code that are necessary for the administration of the program, including eligibility requirements for a school to receive a grant, the amounts in which grants may be made, and the total amount that may be awarded to a school.

Section 2. That existing section 4713.08 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.

Section 3. All items in this act are hereby appropriated as designated out of any moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the designated fund. For all operating appropriations made in this act, those in the first column are for fiscal year 2026 and those in the second column are for fiscal year 2027. The operating appropriations made in this act are in addition to any other operating appropriations made for these fiscal years.

Section 4. Within the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine the manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained. Expenditures from operating appropriations contained in this act shall be accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all applicable provisions of, H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly.