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HB4072 • 2026

tattooing; body piercing; registration

HB4072 - tattooing; body piercing; registration

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Janeen Connolly, Cesar Aguilar, Lorena Austin, Junelle Cavero, Lupe Contreras, Patty Contreras, Quantá Crews, Brian Garcia, Aaron Márquez, Mae Peshlakai, Mariana Sandoval, Stephanie Simacek, Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, Stacey Travers, Betty J Villegas, Kevin Volk
Last action
2026-02-12
Official status
House second read
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text provided does not specify the exact details of registration fees for tattoo artists and body piercing professionals.

Tattooing and Body Piercing Registration

This bill requires tattoo artists and body piercing professionals to register with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board in Arizona.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds new rules for tattoo artists who must now register with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board.
  • Requires body piercing professionals to also register with the same board.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Tattoo artists who work in Arizona
  • Body piercing professionals who work in Arizona

Terms To Know

Barbering and Cosmetology Board
The agency that oversees licensing for hair, nail, and skin care services.
Registration
The process of officially signing up with a government agency to be allowed to work in a certain profession.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the exact fees for tattoo artists or piercing professionals.
  • Does not provide details on how registration will be enforced or what happens if someone does not register.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-12 House

    House second read

  2. 2026-02-11 House

    House Rules: None

  3. 2026-02-11 House

    House Commerce: None

  4. 2026-02-11 House

    House first read

Official Summary Text

HB4072 - tattooing; body piercing; registration

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB4072 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
tattooing; body piercing; registration

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 4072

Introduced by

Representatives
Connolly: Aguilar, Austin, Cavero, Contreras L, Contreras P, Crews, Garcia,
M�rquez, Peshlakai, Sandoval, Simacek, Stahl Hamilton, Travers, Villegas,
Volk

AN
ACT

Amending sections 32-501 and 32-507,
Arizona Revised Statutes; amending title 32, chapter 5, Arizona Revised
Statutes, by adding article 2.1; amending sections 32-572 and 32-574,
Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the barbering and cosmetology board.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 32-501, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
32-501.

Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Aesthetician" means a
person who is licensed to practice aesthetics pursuant to this chapter.

2. "Aesthetics" means any one or a
combination of the following practices if they are performed for cosmetic
purposes:

(a) Massaging, cleansing, stimulating, manipulating,
exercising, beautifying or applying oils, creams, antiseptics, clays, lotions
or other preparations, either by hand or by mechanical or electrical
appliances.

(b) Arching eyebrows or tinting eyebrows and
eyelashes.

(c) Removing superfluous hair by means other than
electrolysis or threading.

3. "Barber" means a person who is licensed
to practice barbering pursuant to this chapter.

4. "Barbering" means any one or a
combination of the following practices if they are performed on a person's
head, face, neck or shoulders for cosmetic purposes:

(a) Cutting, clipping or trimming hair.

(b) Massaging, cleansing, stimulating, manipulating,
exercising, beautifying or applying oils, creams, antiseptics, clays, lotions
or other preparations, either by hand or by
a
mechanical
or electrical
appliances
appliance
.

(c) Styling, arranging, dressing, curling, waving,
permanent waving, straightening, cleansing, singeing, bleaching, dyeing,
tinting, coloring or similarly treating hair.

(d) Providing hair attachments, extensions,
hairpieces and wigs when performed by a barber.

(e) Shaving or trimming a beard.

(f) Providing skin care, including facials,
corrective treatments, blackhead and acne removal and masks and treatment
creams.

(g) Removing unwanted hair by means other than
electrolysis or threading.

5. "Board" means the barbering and
cosmetology board.

6. "Body piercing" means
the act of penetrating the skin with the intention to make a permanent hole,
mark or scar.

6.

7.
"Cosmetic
purposes" means for the purpose of beautifying, preserving or conferring
comeliness, excluding therapeutic massage and manipulations.

7.

8.
"Cosmetologist"
means a person who is licensed to practice cosmetology pursuant to this
chapter.

8.
9.
"Cosmetology"
means any one or a combination of the following practices if they are performed
for cosmetic purposes:

(a) Massaging, cleansing, stimulating, manipulating,
exercising, beautifying or applying oils, creams, antiseptics, clays, lotions
or other preparations, either by hand or by
a
mechanical
or electrical
appliances
appliance
.

(b) Arching eyebrows or tinting eyebrows and
eyelashes.

(c) Removing superfluous hair by means other than
electrolysis or threading.

(d) Nail technology.

(e) Hairstyling.

9.
10.
"Electrical

appliances
appliance
" means
devices
a device
that
use
uses
electrical current and includes lasers and IPL devices as
defined in section 32-516.

10.
11.
"Establishment"
means any of the following:

(a) An establishment or shop that is operated for
the purpose of engaging in the practice of barbering, cosmetology, aesthetics,
nail technology, hairstyling or
personal services related to
eyelash
extensions or any combination of the practices listed in this subdivision.

(b) An establishment or shop together with a
retrofitted motor vehicle that is used exclusively as a mobile facility for the
purpose of engaging in the practice of barbering, cosmetology, aesthetics, nail
technology or hairstyling or any combination of the practices listed in this
subdivision and that is operated and dispatched through the establishment.

(c) A retrofitted motor vehicle that is exclusively
used as a mobile facility for the purpose of engaging in the practice of
barbering, cosmetology, aesthetics, nail technology or hairstyling or any
combination of the practices listed in this subdivision and that is operated
and dispatched from a business that has a physical street address on file with
the board.

11.
12.
"Eyelash
extensions":

(a) Means applying, removing and trimming threadlike
natural or synthetic fibers to an eyelash.

(b) Includes cleansing the eye area and lashes.

(c) Does not include applying eyelash enhancements
that are tattoos, color agents, straightening agents, permanent wave solutions
or bleaching agents to the eyebrow or any other cosmetology service.

12.

13.
"Eyelash
technician" means a person who is not licensed as a cosmetologist or
aesthetician and who for compensation performs personal services limited to
eyelash extensions.

13.
14.
"Hairstyling"
means any of the following:

(a) Cutting, clipping or trimming hair.

(b) Styling, arranging, dressing, curling, waving,
permanent waving, straightening, cleansing, singeing, bleaching, dyeing,
tinting, coloring or similarly treating hair.

(c) Removing superfluous hair from the neck up by
means other than electrolysis or threading.

14.
15.
"Hairstylist"
means a person who is licensed to practice hairstyling pursuant to this
chapter.

15.
16.
"Instructor"
means a person who is licensed to teach barbering, cosmetology, aesthetics,
nail technology or hairstyling, or any combination of these practices, pursuant
to this chapter.

16.
17.
"Mentor"
means a cosmetologist, aesthetician, barber, hairstylist or nail technician who
is approved by the board to train a person in a department of economic
security-approved apprenticeship program in cosmetology or barbering in an
establishment that is licensed by the board.

17.
18.
"Nail
technician" means a person who is licensed to practice nail technology
pursuant to this chapter.

18.
19.
"Nail
technology" means any of the following:

(a) Cutting, trimming, polishing, coloring, tinting,
cleansing or otherwise treating a person's nails.

(b) Applying artificial nails.

(c) Massaging and cleaning a person's hands, arms,
legs and feet.

20. "Piercing professional"
means a person who is registered pursuant to this article and who practices
body piercing in this state.

19.
21.
"School"
means an establishment that is operated for the purpose of teaching barbering,
cosmetology, aesthetics, nail technology or hairstyling, or any combination of
these practices.

22. "Tattoo artist" means a
person who is registered pursuant to this article and who practices tattooing
in this state.

23. "tattooing" means
placing a mark or design on or under the skin of a person by a process of
piercing and ingraining a pigment, dye or ink into the skin.

20.
24.
"Threading"
means a service that results in the removal of hair from its follicle from
around the eyebrows and from other parts of the face with the use of a single
strand of cotton thread and an over-the-counter astringent, if the
service does not use chemicals of any kind, wax or any implements, instruments
or tools to remove hair.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 32-507, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
32-507.

Fees

A. The board shall establish and collect fees not to
exceed the following:

1. Application for initial personal license, a
onetime fee of� $100.

2. Application for personal reciprocity or universal
license, a onetime fee of� $200.

3. Application for establishment license, including
change of ownership, $250.

4. Application for school license and initial
inspection fee, including change of ownership and change of location, $1,000.

5. Application for certification of licensure or
hours, $30.

6. Personal license renewal, $100 to be paid once
every two years pursuant to section 32-517 or 32-535.

7. Personal license delinquent renewal, $150.

8. Establishment license after a change of location,
$150.

9. Establishment license renewal, $100.

10. Establishment license delinquent renewal, $150.

11. School license renewal, $500.

12. School license delinquent renewal, $600.

13. Delinquent penalties for each year or portion of
a year for which the license was inactive.

14. Computer printouts of names of licensees, up to
$.10 per name.

15. Duplicate license, $30.

16. Dishonored checks, $20.

17. Copying charges, $1 per page. For
audiotapes, videotapes, computer discs or other mediums used for recording
sounds, images or information, $15 per tape, disc or other medium.

18. Board-administered educational classes,
$100.

19. Service charges for persons who pay with
alternative payment methods, including credit cards, charge cards, debit cards
and electronic transfers, not to exceed the cost of the alternative payment
method.

20. Eyelash technician registration, an amount to be
determined by the board.

21. Eyelash technician registration renewal, an
amount to be determined by the board.

22. Eyelash technician registration delinquent
renewal, an amount to be determined by the board.

23. Tattoo artist and piercing
professional REGISTRATION, an amount to be determined by the board.

24. Tattoo artist and piercing
professional REGISTRATION renewal, an amount to be determined by the board.

25. Tattoo artist and piercing
PROFESSIONAL registration delinquent renewal, an amount to be determined by the
board.

B. The board may charge additional fees for:

1. Documents and publications provided by the board.

2. Services that the board deems appropriate to
carry out its intent and purpose.� These additional fees shall not exceed the
costs of rendering the services.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Title
32, chapter 5, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding article 2.1, to
read:

ARTICLE
2.1. COMMERCIAL BODY ART professionals

START_STATUTE
32-521.

Tattoo artists; registration; renewal; register

A. A
tattoo artist must be registered by the board before practicing tattooing in
this state. A person is entitled to register as a tattoo artist if
the person does all the following:

1. Submits to the board an
application for a tattoo artist registration on a form supplied by the board,
which shall include:

(
a
) The name
and address of the applicant.

(
b
) The name
and location of any tattoo establishment where the applicant will practice
tattooing in this state.

2. Submits satisfactory evidence of
having completed at least one hundred tattoos and three hundred hours of
apprentice training. the applicant shall provide the BOARD with The
name of the supervising registered tattoo artist and the location of the tattoo
establishment where the applicant completed any tattoo apprenticeship work.

3. Submits satisfactory evidence of
successfully completing both of the following:

(
a
) An
occupational safety and health administration-approved bloodborne
pathogens certification.

(
b
) the
American heart association's basic life support CPR training.

4. Pays the prescribed fees for
tattoo artist registration.

B. Except as provided in section 32-4301,
a tattoo artist shall renew the person's registration on or before the person's
birthday once every two years. the tattoo artist shall submit to the
board an application for renewal accompanied by the prescribed renewal fee to
renew the person's registration. A tattoo artist who fails to renew
the person's registration on or before the person's birthday of the APPROPRIATE
year shall also pay the prescribed delinquent renewal penalty to renew the
registration.

C. The board shall maintain a current
register of tattoo artists who are in good standing with the board and shall
make the register available to the public on a public website.
END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE
32-522.

Piercing professionals; registration; renewal; register

A. A piercing professional must be
registered by the board before practicing body piercing in this
state. A person is entitled to register as a piercing professional
if the person does all of the following:

1. Submits to the board an
application for a piercing professional registration on a form supplied by the
board, which shall include:

(
a
) The name
and address of the applicant.

(
b
) The name and location of any piercing establishment where
the applicant will practice body piercing in this state.

2. Submits
satisfactory evidence of having completed at least one hundred body piercings
and three hundred hours of apprentice training. the applicant shall
provide the board with The name of the supervising registered piercing professional
and the location of the piercing establishment where the applicant completed
any body piercing apprenticeship work.

3. Submits satisfactory evidence of
successfully completing both of the following:

(
a
) An
occupational safety and health administration-approved bloodborne
pathogens certification.

(
b
) the
American heart association's basic life support CPR training.

4. Pays the prescribed fees for
piercing professional registration.

B. Except as provided in section 32-4301,
a piercing professional shall renew the person's registration on or before the
person's birthday once every two years. the piercing professional
shall submit to the board an application for renewal accompanied by the
prescribed renewal fee to renew the person's registration. A
piercing professional who fails to renew the person's registration on or before
the person's birthday of the appropriated year shall also pay the prescribed
delinquent renewal penalty to renew the registration.

C. The board shall maintain a current
register of piercing professionals who are in good standing with the board and
shall make the register available to the public on a public website.
END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE
32-523.

Apprentice training; notice of intent to take an apprentice

A. each tattoo artist or piercing
professional who wishes to oversee the work of a person as an apprentice in the
relevant PROFESSION shall file with the board a notice of intent to take an
apprentice.

b. The notice of intent to take an
apprentice must be completed on a form prescribed by the board, be filed
annually and include:

1. The years of experience the tattoo
artist or piercing professional has practiced in the relevant profession.

2. The name of each apprentice the
tattoo artist or piercing professional will oversee.

3. If continuing to oversee the same
apprentice, the length of time the tattoo artist or piercing professional has
overseen the apprentice.
END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE
32-604.

Establishments; required amenities; inspections

A. each establishment at which tattoo
artists or piercing professionals, or both, practice tattooing or body piercing
in this state shall have the following:

1. at least one washroom with a
commode.

2. Hot
and cold running water for use by customers.

3. At
least one separate sink for use by tattoo artists or piercing professionals.

B. The board shall inspect, on an annual
basis, establishments at which tattooing and body piercing are PRACTICED to
ensure compliance with the requirements prescribed in subsection a of this
section.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Section 32-572, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
32-572.

Grounds for disciplinary action or refusal to issue or renew
license or registration; definition

A. The board may take disciplinary action or refuse
to issue or renew a license or registration for any of the following causes:

1. Continuing to perform barbering, cosmetology,
aesthetics, nail technology, hairstyling
,

tattooing,
body PIERCING
or
personal services related to
eyelash
extension

services if the person knowingly has an
infectious or communicable disease.

2. Being convicted of a crime.

3. Committing an act involving dishonesty, fraud or
deceit with the intent to substantially benefit oneself or another or
substantially injure another.

4. Committing malpractice or incompetency.

5. Knowingly advertising by means of false,
misleading, deceptive or fraudulent statements through communication media.

6. Violating this chapter or any rule adopted
pursuant to this chapter.

7. Making oral or written false statements to the
board.

8. Repeatedly failing to correct infractions of
safety and sanitary requirements prescribed by the board in its rules.

9. Failing to comply with an order of the board.

B. A licensee's or registrant's conviction of a
crime or act is not a cause for the board to refuse to issue or renew a license
or registration unless the crime or act is substantially related to the
qualifications, functions or duties of the license or registration for which
application is made.

C. The expiration, cancellation, suspension or
revocation of a license or registration or a licensee's or registrant's
voluntary surrender of a license or registration does not deprive the board of
jurisdiction to do any of the following:

1. Proceed with an investigation of a licensee or
registrant.

2. Proceed with an action or disciplinary proceeding
against a licensee or registrant.

3. Suspend or revoke a license or registration.

4. Deny the renewal or right of renewal of a license
or registration.

D. For the purposes of this section,
"conviction" means a plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction
following a plea of no contest.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 5. Section 32-574, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
32-574.

Unlawful acts; violations; classification

A. A person shall not:

1. Perform or attempt to perform barbering,
cosmetology, aesthetics, nail technology, hairstyling
,

tattooing, body piercing
or personal services related to
eyelash extensions

without a license or registration in
that category issued pursuant to this chapter, or practice in a category in
which the person does not hold a license or registration.

2. Display a sign or in any way advertise or hold
oneself out as a barber, cosmetologist, aesthetician, nail technician,
hairstylist
, tattoo artist, piercing professional
or
eyelash technician or as being engaged in the practice or business of
barbering, cosmetology, aesthetics, nail technology, hairstyling
,
tattooing, body piercing
or eyelash extensions

without
being licensed or registered pursuant to this chapter.

3. Knowingly make a false statement on an
application for a license or registration pursuant to this chapter.

4. Allow an employee or another person under the
person's supervision or control to perform barbering, cosmetology, aesthetics,
nail technology, hairstyling
, tattooing, body piercing
or
personal services related to eyelash extensions

without a
license or registration issued pursuant to this chapter.

5. Practice or attempt to practice barbering,
cosmetology, aesthetics, nail technology, hairstyling or personal services
related to eyelash extensions

in any place other than in
an establishment licensed by the board unless the person is requested by a
customer to go to a place other than an establishment licensed pursuant to this
chapter and is sent to the customer from the establishment, except that a
person who is licensed or registered pursuant to this chapter may practice,
without the establishment's request, barbering, cosmetology, aesthetics, nail
technology, hairstyling
, tattooing, body piercing
or
personal services related to eyelash extensions in a health care facility,
hospital, residential care institution, nursing home or residence of a person
requiring home care because of an illness, infirmity or disability.

6. Obtain or attempt to obtain a license or
registration by the use of monies other than the prescribed fees or any other
thing of value or by fraudulent misrepresentation.

7. Provide any service to a person having a visible
disease, pediculosis or open sores suggesting a communicable disease until the
person furnishes a statement signed by a physician who is licensed pursuant to
chapter 13 or 17 of this title stating that the disease or condition is not in
an infectious, contagious or communicable stage.

8. Operate a school without being licensed by the
board.

9. Operate an establishment without being licensed
by the board and without having an individual designated as the manager of the
establishment.

10. Violate this chapter or any rule adopted
pursuant to this chapter.

11. Ignore or fail to comply with a board subpoena.

12. Use the title of "aesthetician",
"barber", "cosmetologist", "nail technician",
"hairstylist"
,

or

"eyelash technician"
, "Tattoo artist" or
"piercing professional"
or any other title or term likely to
be confused with "aesthetician", "barber",
"cosmetologist", "nail technician", "hairstylist"
,

or
"eyelash technician"
, "Tattoo artist" or "Piercing PROFESSIONAL"

in any advertisement, statement or publication unless that person is licensed
or registered by the board.

13. Teach barbering, cosmetology, aesthetics, nail
technology or hairstyling in this state unless the person is licensed as an
instructor pursuant to article 3 of this chapter.

B. An instructor shall not render barbering,
cosmetology, aesthetics, nail technology or hairstyling services in a school
unless the services are directly incidental to instructing students.

C. A school shall post a conspicuous notice to the
public pursuant to section 32-557 that all services are performed by
students under the direct supervision of a licensed instructor.

D. A person who violates this section is guilty of a
class 1 misdemeanor.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 6.
Current
practitioners

Each person who practices body
piercing or tattooing in this state on the effective date of this act:

1. May continue to practice
without a registration as required by section 32-521 or 32-522,
Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, until January 1, 2027.

2. Shall apply to the
barbering and cosmetology board for registration pursuant to section 32-521
or 32-522, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, on or before
October 31, 2026.

3. Is exempt from the
apprentice training requirement of section 32-521, subsection A,
paragraph 3 or section 32-522, subsection A, paragraph 3, Arizona Revised
Statutes, as added by this act, if the applicant otherwise meets the
requirements for registration under section 32-521 or 32-522,
Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.