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Statement of Introduction Hair Braiding Licensing Modernization Amendment Act of 2026 April 23, 2026 Today, alongside Councilmembers Charles Allen and Robert C. White, Jr., I am introducing the Hair Braiding Licensing Modernization Amendment Act of 2026. This bill removes unnecessary licensing requirements for hair braiders in the District and updates our law to better reflect the actual nature of this work. Hair braiding is distinct from cosmetology. It does not involve cutting hair or the use of dangerous chemicals, dyes, or coloring agents, and this bill makes that distinction clear in District law. Under current law, the District regulates hair braiding through the Board of Barber and Cosmetology, requiring braiders to navigate a licensing framework that was not designed for this practice. This bill removes hair braiding from the definition of cosmetology, eliminates it from the Board’s regulatory authority, and makes clear that a person engaged solely in hair braiding does not need a license under District law. This bill reflects a commonsense shift that has already taken hold across much of the country. Most states no longer require a cosmetology license to braid hair. Both Virginia and Maryland exempt hair braiding from cosmetology licensing requirements, recognizing that it is a distinct practice that does not present the same public health concerns as other services. The District’s current approach is more restrictive than many of our peer jurisdictions and imposes requirements that others have already determined are unnecessary. The Hair Braiding Licensing Modernization Amendment Act responds to that reality with a straightforward fix by clearly defining hair braiding and removing it from the District’s cosmetology licensing framework entirely. This legislation is about reducing barriers to work, supporting entrepreneurship, and ensuring that the District’s occupational licensing laws are appropriately tailored to protect health and safety, rather than imposing outdated requirements on a safe and longstanding cultural practice. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this bill forward.
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1 2 _____________________________ _____________________________ 3 Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 4 5 6 _____________________________ 7 Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 8 9 10 A BILL 11 12 _______ 13 14 15 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 16 17 __________________ 18 19 20 To amend Subchapter I-B of Chapter 28 of Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official Code to 21 exclude hair braiding from the practice of cosmetology and from the regulatory authority 22 of the Board of Barber and Cosmetology, and to clarify that a person engaged solely in 23 hair braiding is not required to obtain a license under this subchapter. 24 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 25 act may be cited as the “Hair Braiding Licensing Modernization Amendment Act of 2026”. 26 Sec. 2. Subchapter I-B of Chapter 28 of Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official 27 Code is amended as follows: 28 (a) Section 47-2853.01 is amended by adding a new paragraph (9) to read as follows: 29 “(9) “Hair braiding” means the twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, 30 or braiding of hair, including the use of natural or synthetic fibers, and does not include the 31 application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or cutting of the hair.”. 32 (b) Section 47-2853.04(a)(13) is amended by striking the semicolon and inserting the 33 phrase “; except, hair braiding;” in its place. 34
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(c) Section 47-2853.06(c) is amended by striking the phrase “such as braiding, 35 electrolysis, esthetics, manicuring and others” and inserting the phrase “such as electrolysis, 36 esthetics, manicuring and others” in its place. 37 (d) Section 47-2853.81is amended as follows: 38 (1) Strike the phrase “, braiding, coloring,” and inserting the phrase “, coloring,” 39 in its place. 40 (2) Strike the phrase “, weaving, or” and inserting the phrase “, or” in its place. 41 (3) Strike the phrase “of a person.” and inserting the phrase “of a person or hair 42 braiding.” in its place. 43 Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 44 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 45 impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 46 approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 47 Sec. 4. Effective date. 48 This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or, in the event of veto by the 49 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional review 50 as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 51 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)). 52