AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 2717 into law on June 9 deregulating hair braiding for the Texas barbering and cosmetology professions.
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Executive Director, William Kuntz, states, “We consistently review programs and licenses under our management to determine if continued licensure is needed. In alignment with Governor Abbott’s vision of limited government and less regulation the agency identified hair braiding as one of its strategic initiatives to downsize government for 2015. This an example of the Department’s focus on Smaller, Smarter Government.”
Individuals and instructors who only provide or teach hair braiding and specialty shops that solely provide hair braiding services are no longer required to hold a license.
But, individuals and specialty shops offering other cosmetology or barbering services, such as hair weaving, will be required to hold a current license for that specialty service.
TDLR will pro-rate the fees and return the unused portion to individuals holding a barber or cosmetology hair braiding specialty certificate, hair braiding instructor license, or hair braiding specialty shop license. Information concerning the refund will be posted on the Department’s webpage soon.
House Bill 2717 takes effect immediately.
