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HB844 • 2026

Cosmetologists and barbers; exempt those who have certain experience from having to take exam if license is expired for not more than 5 years.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-7-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A COSMETOLOGIST, BARBER, ESTHETICIAN, NAIL TECHNICIAN OR INSTRUCTOR WHO HAS AT LEAST TEN YEARS' EXPERIENCE UNDER THEIR LICENSE AND WHOSE LICENSE HAS BEEN EXPIRED FOR NOT MORE THAN FIVE YEARS SHALL NOT HAVE TO TAKE THE EXAMINATION IN ORDER TO RENEW THEIR LICENSE, BUT SHALL RENEW THEIR LICENSE UPON PAYMENT OF THE REQUIRED RENEWAL FEE, ANY ADJUDICATED FINES, AND A DELINQUENT FEE FOR EACH YEAR THAT THEIR LICENSE HAS BEEN EXPIRED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Summers
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was not signed into law, so it does not currently affect anyone.

Exempting Experienced Cosmetologists and Barbers from Exams

This bill allows cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, nail technicians, or instructors with at least ten years of experience to renew their licenses without taking an exam if their license has been expired for no more than five years.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that experienced professionals do not have to take a test when they want to renew their license after it expires.
  • Requires these professionals to pay fees and fines before getting their renewed license.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, nail technicians, or instructors with at least ten years of experience under their license.

Terms To Know

License
A document that allows someone to work in a specific profession legally.
Renewal fee
The money paid to keep a professional license valid after it expires.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
  • It only applies if the license has been expired for no more than five years.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/16 (H) Referred To Business and Commerce

Official Summary Text

Cosmetologists and barbers; exempt those who have certain experience from having to take exam if license is expired for not more than 5 years.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 844 *HR26/R1595.2* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G3/5
26/HR26/R1595.2
PAGE 1 (RF\KW)

To: Business and Commerce
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Summers

HOUSE BILL NO. 844

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-7-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
PROVIDE THAT A COSMETOLOGIST, BARBER, ESTHETICIAN, NAIL TECHNICIAN 2
OR INSTRUCTOR WHO HAS AT LEAST TEN YEARS' EXPERIENCE UNDER THEIR 3
LICENSE AND WHOSE LICENSE HAS BEEN EXPIRED FOR NOT MORE THAN FIVE 4
YEARS SHALL NOT HAVE TO TAKE THE EXAMINATION IN ORDER TO RENEW 5
THEIR LICENSE, BUT SHALL RENEW THEIR LICENSE UPON PAYMENT OF THE 6
REQUIRED RENEWAL FEE, ANY ADJUDICATED FINES, AND A DELINQUENT FEE 7
FOR EACH YEAR THAT THEIR LICENSE HAS BEEN EXPIRED; AND FOR RELATED 8
PURPOSES. 9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 10
SECTION 1. Section 73-7-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 11
amended as follows: 12
73-7-19. (1) Except as provided in Section 33-1-39, all 13
licenses shall be renewed biennially under the fee schedule in 14
Section 73-7-29. Applications for renewal of licenses for 15
cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, nail technicians and 16
instructors must be accompanied by the required renewal fee. A 17
grace period of sixty (60) days will be given in which to renew 18
the license. Upon the expiration of the grace period of sixty 19
(60) days, any applicant for the renewal of a license will be 20
required to pay the required renewal fee and a delinquent fee in 21
H. B. No. 844 *HR26/R1595.2* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1595.2
PAGE 2 (RF\KW)

addition to the renewal fee. The fees may be paid according to 22
the manner prescribed by the board in rules and regulations. 23
Checks returned to the board because of insufficient funds shall 24
result in nonrenewal of the license, which will require the 25
penalty fee for insufficient fund checks plus all other amounts 26
due for renewal of the license before the license may be renewed. 27
After one (1) year has passed from the expiration date of the 28
license, a delinquent fee must be paid for each year up to three 29
(3) years, after which the required examination must be taken 30
before a license can be renewed. However, any cosmetologist, 31
barber, esthetician, nail technician or instructor who has at 32
least ten (10) years' experience under their license and whose 33
license has been expired for not more than five (5) years shall 34
not have to take the examination in order to renew their license, 35
but shall renew their license upon payment of the required renewal 36
fee, any adjudicated fines, and a delinquent fee for each year 37
that their license has been expired. All applications for the 38
examination required by this chapter shall expire ninety (90) days 39
from the date thereof. 40
(2) Each application or filing made under this section shall 41
include the social security number(s) of the applicant in 42
accordance with Section 93-11-64. 43
(3) No license issued by the board may be renewed until all 44
monetary fines and penalties assessed by the board to the licensee 45
are paid in full. 46
H. B. No. 844 *HR26/R1595.2* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1595.2
PAGE 3 (RF\KW)
ST: Cosmetologists and barbers; exempt those
who have certain experience from having to take
exam if license is expired for not more than 5
years.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 47
and after July 1, 2026. 48