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HLS 26RS-54 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 266
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAYHAM
COSMETOLOGY: Provides for a special permit within the Louisiana Cosmetology Act
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 37:563(13) through (17) and to enact R.S. 37:563(18) through
3 (21) and 584.1, relative to the Louisiana Cosmetology Act; to provide for definitions;
4 to establish a special permit for natural hair braiding services; to provide for permit
5 qualifications; to provide for fees to the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology; to
6 provide for sanitation and safety training by the office of public health in the
7 Louisiana Department of Health; to provide for exemptions; to provide for state
8 preemption; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 37:563(13) through (17) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
11 37:563(18) through (21) and 584.1 are hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 §563. Definitions
13 As used in this Chapter, the following words have the following meanings:
14 * * *
15 (13) "Mechanical devices" means clips, combs, crochet hooks, curlers,
16 curling irons, hairpins, rollers, scissors, blunt-tipped needles, thread, and hair
17 binders.
18 (14) "Mobile salon" means a self-contained facility, where cosmetology is
19 practiced for a fee, that may be moved, towed, or transported from one location to
20 another.
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HLS 26RS-54 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 266
1 (15) "Natural hair braider" means any person who engages in natural hair
2 braiding.
3 (16) "Natural hair braiding" means the twisting, wrapping, weaving,
4 extending, locking, or braiding of hair by hand or with mechanical devices. Natural
5 hair braiding includes all of the following:
6 (a) The use of natural or synthetic hair extensions, natural or synthetic hair
7 and fibers, decorative beads, and other hair accessories.
8 (b) Minor trimming of natural hair or hair extensions incidental to twisting,
9 wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding hair.
10 (c) The use of topical agents such as conditioners, gels, moisturizers, oils,
11 pomades, and shampoos in conjunction with performing any action as described in
12 this Paragraph.
13 (17) "Natural hair braiding service" means any service performed by a
14 natural hair braider engaged in the practice of natural hair braiding as defined in this
15 Section.
16 (14)(18) "Satellite classroom" means a separate classroom location used as
17 supplemental training space located under the same roof of the main school building
18 or on the same campus as the administrative center and within at least three hundred
19 feet of the main school building for the purpose of training an overflow of students
20 who cannot be accommodated at the main school.
21 (15)(19) "School" means any premises wherein cosmetology is taught.
22 (16)(20) "Student" means a person registered in a school authorized by the
23 board to teach cosmetology.
24 (17)(21) "Teacher" or "instructor" means a person who teaches cosmetology
25 for direct or indirect compensation, within a school.
26 * * *
27 §584.1. Special permit requirements for natural hair braiding services
28 A. A special permit is required for natural hair braiding services at any
29 location. Natural hair braiding services shall not include any of the following:
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HLS 26RS-54 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 266
1 (1) The application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations to alter
2 the color of the hair or to straighten, curl, or alter the structure of the hair.
3 (2) The use of chemical hair joining agents such as synthetic tape, keratin
4 bonds, or fusion bonds.
5 B. Natural hair braiding is defined in R.S. 37:563 and may be used to
6 reference African hair braiding or styling, but is not limited to any particular cultural,
7 ethnic, racial, or religious forms of hair styles.
8 C.(1) A person shall annually meet all of the following requirements to
9 receive a special permit as a registered natural hair braider:
10 (a) Review training materials on sanitation and safety prepared by the office
11 of public health in the Louisiana Department of Health.
12 (b) Pass a twenty-question examination on sanitation and safety prepared by
13 and administered by the office of public health in the Louisiana Department of
14 Health.
15 (c) Complete the board's application for a natural hair braiding permit and
16 submit the application and completed examination to the board by mail, in person,
17 or on the board's website.
18 (d) Pay applicable fees for a special permit as outlined in R.S. 37:599.
19 (2) The board shall issue a special permit upon verifying a person has passed
20 the examination by at least seventy percent.
21 (3) A person who holds a valid special permit issued pursuant to this
22 Subsection shall be exempt from a certification of registration for beauty shops or
23 salons.
24 (4) The board shall make the training materials, examination, and application
25 available at its office and on its website.
26 D. Ordinances by units of local government that prohibit natural hair
27 braiding, natural hair braiding services, or natural hair braiders, or regulate any
28 matter relating to the licensing, testing, training, facilities, or equipment of natural
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HLS 26RS-54 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 266
1 hair braiding, natural hair braiding services, or natural hair braiders are preempted
2 by the provisions of this Chapter.
3 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2027.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 266 Original 2026 Regular Session Bayham
Abstract: Adds definitions and establishes a special permit within the La. Cosmetology
Act.
Present law provides for definitions in the La. Cosmetology Act.
Proposed law retains present law and defines "mechanical devices", "natural hair braider",
"natural hair braiding", and "natural hair braiding service".
Proposed law creates special permit requirements for natural hair braiding services.
Proposed law provides what natural hair braiding services shall not include.
Proposed law provides that natural hair braiding is defined in proposed law and may be used
to reference African hair braiding or styling, but is not limited to any particular cultural,
ethnic, racial, or religious forms of hairstyles.
Proposed law provides that a person shall annually meet all of the following requirements
in order to receive a special permit as a registered natural hair braider:
(1) Review training materials on sanitation and safety prepared by the office of public
health in the La. Dept. of Health.
(2) Pass a 20-question examination on sanitation and safety prepared by and
administered by the office of public health in the La. Dept. of Health.
(3) Complete the board's application for a natural hair braiding permit and submit the
application and completed examination to the board by mail, in person, or on the
board's website.
(4) Pay applicable fees outlined in present law.
Proposed law requires the board to issue a special permit upon verifying a person has passed
the examination by at least 70%.
Proposed law provides for exemptions for a person who holds a valid special permit issued
pursuant to proposed law.
Proposed law provides that the board shall make the training materials, examination, and
application available at its office and on its website.
Proposed law provides that ordinances by units of local government that are related to
proposed law are preempted by the provisions of present and proposed law.
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HLS 26RS-54 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 266
Effective July 1, 2027.
(Amends R.S. 37:563(13)-(17); Adds R.S. 37:563(18)-(21) and 584.1)
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