Washington State to Consider Licensing Massage Businesses

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House Bill 1981 was introduced in the Washington state legislature on March 7, 2013.* The bill proposes to require that massage therapy businesses, or “establishments,â€￾ obtain establishment licenses from the Department of Health in order to operate.* The bill lists several exemptions, including exemptions for student clinics, establishments owned by licensed medical professionals, establishments which provide only chair massage, establishments owned and operated by a licensed massage practitioner who is the only practitioner working in that establishment, and establishments that are affiliated with a national massage franchise.
ABMP is opposed to the bill and has voiced its opposition in a letter to the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Laurie Jinkins, which you can read here.* The bill has not been sent to Committee, and it is in the early stages of the legislative process.* We will let you know of any developments concerning HB 1981.

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