On Monday with bipartisan support, the Senate passed the State Government and Elections omnibus budget bill, focusing on good governance, eliminating waste, and promoting fair and free elections. Included in the bill is language authored by Senator Karin Housley (R-Stillwater) that moves the functions and regulatory jurisdiction of the Board of Cosmetology over to the Department of Health.

“I’m glad to see this important bill included in the State Government budget, as there have been issues with the Board of Cosmetology for quite a while. There has been no oversight over the Board’s regulations and policies, and it has hurt hundreds of businesses,” said Sen. Housley. “There needs to be a process for holding the Board accountable for the decisions they have made. The best way to accomplish this is by transferring authority from the Board to the Department of Health. After endless complaints involving the Board’s poor leadership and decision-making, this transfer will allow those in the beauty industry to avoid the issues they’ve repeatedly faced in trying to work under this board’s jurisdiction.”

This provision attempts to address mass reports of board mismanagement, and a systemic problem of over-regulation that has been abundant in the Minnesota cosmetology industry. Included language follows states like Vermont and Colorado that have addressed similar issues by putting licensing requirements with a state agency, rather than having a Cosmetology Board with broad oversight of licensing and regulation.

Legislation was previously passed to address an issue with the Board of Cosmetology concerning freelance hair and makeup artists. Additionally, the Board is currently being audited by the Legislative Auditor’s Office due to possible mismanagement.