Senate Passes Roegner Bill Expanding Opportunities for Cosmetologists

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Senate today passed Senate Bill 89, sponsored by State Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), which would enter Ohio as a party to the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. This legislation will allow licensed cosmetologists to practice in another compact member state. "Imagine if your Ohio driver's license was only valid in Ohio. If you wanted to drive out of Ohio you had to get a new driver's license for each state. That ludicrous scenario is what people are facing with occupational licenses," said Roegner. "Senate Bill 89 solves this problem for licensed cosmetologists by joining Ohio to the compact of states who will recognize any cosmetology license from a member state. This just makes sense." 

"The Compact" is a brand new compact and it is not yet active. The governing commission will form once seven states have enacted this legislation. Six other states have introduced legislation to join 'the compact' (California, Colorado, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and New York), and Kentucky, Arizona, Alabama, Virginia, and Maryland have already enacted their bills into law. 

"This legislation will make Ohio a leader and promote the cosmetology profession in the Buckeye State," the Senator said.

Senate Bill 89 continues the work done by Senator Roegner to remove burdensome government barriers so that people are free to work in the field for which they are trained. Over the last two General Assemblies, Senator Roegner also sponsored interstate compact bills for social workers (SB 90), nurses (SB 3), occupational therapists (SB 7), physicians (SB 6), physical therapists (SB 5), counselors (SB 204), and several others.

This bill now heads to the Ohio House for consideration.