Earlier this year, bipartisan legislation was passed and signed into law by Governor Walz. It exempts freelance hair and makeup artists from being required to obtain a full cosmetology license. The bill, authored by Senator Karin Housley (R-St. Marys Point), takes effect today, August 1st.
The legislation exempts freelance hair and makeup artists – those who clean, dry, arrange, and style hair, or apply cosmetics to the face and skin – from the Board of Cosmetology’s licensing and special event requirements. Freelance hair and makeup artists are still required to take a four-hour sanitation training course from a state-approved continuing education provider.
“This bill is for the many men and women across Minnesota who are simply working to make a living for their families by doing what they love,” said Senator Karin Housley (R-St. Marys Point). “Many of the regulations implemented by the Board of Cosmetology are arbitrary. They overregulate the hair and makeup artists we hire for weddings, proms, and photoshoots who should not be held to the same licensing standards as those who work in salons. The artists who brought this issue to our attention deserve thanks from countless other small businesses doing their best to serve their customers well, without excessive oversight.”
Senator Karin Housley, of St. Marys Point, represents the Forest Lake area and the St. Croix River Valley in the Minnesota Senate. Senator Housley is chairwoman of the Family Care and Aging Committee and is an assistant majority leader.