Colorado

Colorado HB 1320, which we have discussed in our most recent Legislative Updates, was signed into law by Governor Hickenlooper on June 8, 2016.  

As discussed in our previous update, Colorado House Bill 1320 was initiated this legislative session by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). The intention of the bill was to close loopholes in the current Massage Therapy Practice Act that are being exploited for illegal activity. The bill was sponsored by Representatives Foote and Carver, and Senator Cooke.

Colorado HB 1320 has been introduced in the state legislature as an attempt to address prostitution and human trafficking enterprises operating under the guise of massage therapy in the state.  If passed, the bill will allow localities to implement local regulations for massage establishments (not individuals), and would place the list of exempt modalities within the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ (DORA) rules, rather than within the state statute as is the case now.  We have worked with DORA to obtai

The deadline to renew your Colorado massage therapy license is January 31, 2015. The renewal fee is $76.  If you do not renew your license prior to January 31 you will have a 60 day grace period to renew before your license will be deemed expired. However, a $15 late fee will apply to all licenses renewed during the grace period.  Don't delay; renew your license now to avoid a late fee.

Under the new amendments to Colorado's Massage Practice Act, starting July 1, 2014, the legal title for massage therapists in Colorado will change.  All "registered" Colorado massage therapists will now be called "licensed" massage therapists, and will have a massage license, not a massage registration.  This is simply a change in terminology; it does not affect any of the rights or obligations you have as a massage therapist in Colorado.  The change was made to reduce consumer confusion, since the majority of other states use the title "licensed massage therapist," not

Senate bill 151 extends the Colorado Massage Therapy Practice Act, the law that regulates massage therapists in Colorado, until 2022. SB 151 does not make any drastic changes to the existing massage law; however, it does include a title change for the profession. Under the new law, massage therapists will be required to obtain a “license,” instead of a “registration,” in order to practice, and therefore will be titled as Licensed Massage Therapists.

Colorado Senate Bill 151 was approved by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on February 13, 2013.  The bill now goes to the Appropriations Committee for review.  If passed, the bill will extend the Colorado Massage Therapy Practice Act, the law that regulates massage therapists in Colorado, until 2022.  SB 151 does not make any drastic changes to the existing massage law.  The requirements for licensure will be the same as they have been for registration:  500 hours of massage th