Irene Smith (1946–2021), an educator and founder of the Everflowing hospice program, passed away in her home on April 4, 2021.
News
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.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation adopted new rules March 3, 2021. The changes summarized within this update address new consent requirements for breast massage and human trafficking prevention continuing education updates. The new rules are effective April 1, 2021.
House Bill 1315 attempted to deregulate massage therapy in Mississippi, but died in a house committee March 2, 2021.
Senate Bill 214 removes the provision that English be the sole language for the government in the state of Utah.
Senate File 1074 and House File 1275 would have required statewide licensure for massage therapists and Asian bodywork therapists in Minnesota. However, they were not assigned a committee hearing in this legislative session, so they are done for the year.
House Bill 1016 would have disbanded the Board of Massage Therapy under the Department of Health and created a new Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Massage Therapy, but HB 1016 died in the House.
Senate Bill 750 and House Bill 1652 were not heard in committee and therefore did not pass this year.
Results of a recent pilot study suggest that massage and relaxation are effective interventions for reducing the psychological burdens on caregivers of patients with dementia.
Kentucky House Bill 79 was signed by Governor Beshear March 18, 2021. HB 79 requires criminal background checks and photos to be submitted with applications to practice massage therapy.