House Bill No. 1263 passed this legislative session, and the included provisions require an amendment to the Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy Rules and Regulations. You can submit commentary to the Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy showing your support or opposition to the proposed rules no later than August 11, 2021.
Mississippi
State Board of Massage Therapy
353 S Fourth Street
PO Box 20
Morton, MS 39117
Phone: 601-732-6038
Fax: 601-732-6447
Email: director@msbmt.state.ms.us
Title: Licensed Massage Therapist
Requirement: 700 hours and passing the Mississippi State Licensing Exam and either the MBLEx or NCBTMB
Renewal: 24 hours/2 years (12 hours each year)
The Mississippi legislature passed Senate Bill 2751 this session, requiring the Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy to develop guidelines for massage establishment registration. The initial registration fee is $50 and it must be paid to the Board no later than January 1, 2022.
House Bill 1315 aimed to deregulate massage therapy, but died in the legislature. Senate Bill 2751 is a sunset bill that extends the Mississippi Massage Practice Act, with a few amendments affecting practitioners and schools. SB 2751 was signed by Governor Reeves and goes into effect July 1, 2021.
House Bill 1315 attempted to deregulate massage therapy in Mississippi, but died in a house committee March 2, 2021.
Mississippi House Bill 1315 (HB 1315) was introduced January 28, 2021. In the House committee held February 3, 2021, HB 1315 was amended to deregulate massage therapy. ABMP is opposed to this bill and we encourage you to send a letter to voice your opinion.
Mississippi Senate Bill 2751 would add establishment registration requirements to the Massage Practice Act. All licensed massage therapists would be required to register their business with the state.
ABMP, ASCP, AHP, and ANP have summarized below how COVID-19 has impacted Mississippi, from executive orders affecting business closures, to reopening protocols modifying practice procedures, to financial programs developed to aid the unemployed.
The Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy is now accepting the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB: www.fsmtb.org) as a qualification for licensure.
House Bill 426, signed into law by Governor Barbour, changes the state credential from registration to a license and stipulates that no member of the state board of massage therapy can be an owner or partner in a massage therapy school. HB 426 went into effect on July 1, 2008.