Maryland

Maryland massage therapists are currently regulated by the Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy, which also regulates chiropractors.  A new bill, Maryland HB 1420, proposes to separate the regulation of the two professions by creating a new Board of Massage Therapy Examiners, which would regulate only massage therapists, and a separate Board of Chiropractic Examiners, which would regulate only chiropractors.  The Board of Massage Therapy Examiners would be composed of 7 members, five of whom would be licens

Maryland HB 1157, which we discussed in our February 2014 legislative update, has been signed by Governor O’Malley and is now state law.  The law goes into effect on October 1, 2014, and impacts only those people who receive their massage license or registration for the first time on or after October 1, 2014.  The changes made by the new law do not affect people who hold a current Maryland massage license or registration, or people who receive their license or registration between now and September 30, 2014.

Maryland HB 1157 was introduced in the state legislature this month by Delegate James Hubbard. If passed, the bill would change Maryland’s massage practice law by:

Maryland House Bill 818 and Senate Bill 915, both recently introduced in the state legislature, propose to increase the number of hours that an applicant for licensure must complete in a Board-approved massage program from 500 hours to 600 hours. The bills also would add kinesiology to the content areas that must be included in those 600 hours.

SUGGESTED ACTION STEPS FOR MEMBERS ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS NOTICE – DEADLINE JANUARY 18, 2011

The Maryland Board of Chiropractic Examiners is promulgating rules to implement the changes in the law enacted by the Legislature in October 2008.

House Bill 1563 created the Maryland Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners and provided for the appointment of massage therapists to that board. If you are interested in applying for an appointment to this board, it is now time to apply. Applications are due on August 28th and require the endorsement by a representative of your professional association (ABMP).

House bill 1563, sponsored by Delegate Hubbard, was signed into law by the governor on April 24, 2008. The bill amends current law in two main ways.

Governor O'Malley has called a Special Session of the General Assembly that will commence on Monday, October 29, 2007. The purpose of the session is to address Maryland's $1.7 billion deficit.
Contained in Governor O'Malley's proposal is an expansion of the sales tax, including a sales tax on massage therapy. Massage is the only health care service to be added as a taxable service.

ABMP recommends you contact your representatives this week and ask them to please oppose any tax on massage therapy.

Both the sales tax on massage and House Bill 735, failed to pass this legislative session. Any new attempt to regulate the massage therapy profession will take place in the next legislative session beginning in January 2008.