Establish a natural hair stylist education grant program

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
S. B. No. 289

2025-2026

Senator Hicks-Hudson

Cosponsors: Senators Antonio, Craig

To
amend section 4713.08 and to enact section 4713.47 of the Revised
Code
to
establish a natural hair stylist education grant program and to make
an appropriation.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
section 4713.08 be amended and section 4713.47 of the Revised Code be
enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
4713.08.
(A)
The state cosmetology and barber board shall adopt rules in
accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code as necessary to
implement this chapter. The rules shall do all of the following:

(1)
Govern the practice of the branches of cosmetology;

(2)
Specify conditions an individual must satisfy to qualify for a
temporary pre-examination work permit under section 4713.22 of the
Revised Code and the conditions and method of renewing a temporary
pre-examination work permit under that section;

(3)
Provide for the conduct of examinations under section 4713.24 of the
Revised Code;

(4)
Specify conditions under which the board will take into account,
under section 4713.32 of the Revised Code, instruction an applicant
for a license under section 4713.28, 4713.30, or 4713.31 of the
Revised Code received more than five years before the date of
application for the license;

(5)
Provide for the granting of waivers under section 4713.29 of the
Revised Code;

(6)
Specify conditions an applicant must satisfy for the board to issue
the applicant a license under section 4713.34 of the Revised Code
without the applicant taking an examination conducted under section
4713.24 of the Revised Code;

(7)
Specify locations in which glamour photography services in which a
branch of cosmetology is practiced may be provided;

(8)
Establish conditions and the fee for a temporary special occasion
work permit under section 4713.37 of the Revised Code and specify the
amount of time such a permit is valid;

(9)
Specify conditions an applicant must satisfy for the board to issue
the applicant an independent contractor license under section 4713.39
of the Revised Code and the fee for issuance and renewal of the
license;

(10)
Establish conditions under which food may be sold at a salon;

(11)
Specify which professions regulated by a professional regulatory
board of this state may be practiced in a salon under section 4713.42
of the Revised Code, including whether cosmetic therapy may be
practiced in a salon;

(12)
Establish standards for the provision of cosmetic therapy, massage
therapy, or other professional service in a salon pursuant to section
4713.42 of the Revised Code;

(13)
Establish standards for board approval of, and the granting of
credits for, training in branches of cosmetology or barbering at
schools licensed in this state;

(14)
Establish the manner in which a school licensed under section 4713.44
of the Revised Code may offer post-secondary and advanced practice
programs;

(15)
Establish infection control standards for the practice of the
branches of cosmetology and the operation of salons and schools;

(16)
Establish the application process for obtaining a tanning facility
permit under section 4713.48 of the Revised Code, including the
amount of the fee for an initial or renewed permit;

(17)
Establish standards for installing and operating a tanning facility
in a manner that ensures the health and safety of consumers,
including infection control standards and standards that do all of
the following:

(a)
Establish a maximum safe time of exposure to radiation and a maximum
safe temperature at which sun lamps may be operated;

(b)
Require consumers to wear protective eyeglasses;

(c)
Require consumers to be supervised as to the length of time consumers
use the facility's sun lamps;

(d)
Require the operator to prohibit consumers from standing too close to
sun lamps and to post signs warning consumers of the potential
effects of radiation on individuals taking certain medications and of
the possible relationship of the radiation to skin cancer;

(e)
Require the installation of protective shielding for sun lamps and
handrails for consumers;

(f)
Require floors to be dry during operation of lamps;

(g)
Establish procedures an operator must follow in making reasonable
efforts in compliance with section 4713.50 of the Revised Code to
determine the age of an individual seeking to use sun lamp tanning
services.

(18)
If the board, under section 4713.61 of the Revised Code, develops a
procedure for classifying licenses inactive, do both of the
following:

(a)
Establish a fee for having a license classified inactive that
reflects the cost to the board of providing the inactive license
service;

(b)
Specify the continuing education that an individual whose license has
been classified inactive must complete to have the license restored.
The continuing education shall be sufficient to ensure the minimum
competency in the use or administration of a new procedure or product
required by a licensee necessary to protect public health and safety.
The requirement shall not exceed the cumulative number of hours of
continuing education that the individual would have been required to
complete had the individual retained an active license.

(19)
Establish a fee for approval of a continuing education program under
section 4713.62 of the Revised Code that is adequate to cover any
expense the board incurs in the approval process;

(20)
Establish requirements for students of schools who are engaged in
learning the theory and practice of barbering;

(21)
Establish the minimum student-instructor ratio that a school offering
instruction in the theory and practice of barbering must meet;

(22)

Establish
procedures for administering the natural hair stylist education grant
program established under section 4713.47 of the Revised Code;

(23)

Anything
else necessary to implement this chapter.

(B)
The rules adopted under division (A)(2) of this section may establish
additional conditions for a temporary pre-examination work permit
under section 4713.22 of the Revised Code that are applicable to
individuals who practice a branch of cosmetology in another state or
country.

(C)
The conditions specified in rules adopted under division (A)(6) of
this section may include that an applicant is applying for a license
to practice a branch of cosmetology for which the board determines an
examination is unnecessary.

(D)
The rules adopted under division (A)(11) of this section shall not
include a profession if practice of the profession in a salon is a
violation of a statute or rule governing the profession.

(E)
The infection control standards established under division (A)(15) of
this section shall focus in particular on precautions to be employed
to prevent infectious or contagious diseases being created or spread.

(F)
The fee established by rules adopted under division (A)(16) of this
section shall cover the cost the board incurs in inspecting tanning
facilities and enforcing the board's rules but may not exceed one
hundred dollars per location of such facilities.

Sec.
4713.47.
(A)
The state cosmetology and barber board shall establish and administer
a grant program to increase the number of students engaged in
learning or acquiring knowledge of the practice of natural hair
styling at a school. Under the program, the board may award a grant
to a school to offer any of the following:

(1)
A course of practical training and technical instruction for natural
hair styling under division (A)(1) of section 4713.44 of the Revised
Code;

(2)
Post-secondary programs or advanced practice programs to broaden a
licensee's knowledge of and skill set in natural hair styling, if the
school offers a course described in division (A)(1) of this section;

(3)
Seminars or workshops focused on hair care techniques and management
of textured hair and cultural sensitivity, in collaboration with
experts in the practice or teaching of natural hair styling and
educators of diversity training.

(B)
A school seeking to participate in the grant program shall apply to
the board in the form and manner prescribed by the board.

(C)
A school awarded a grant to offer a post-secondary program or
advanced practice program under division (A)(2) of this section may
include any of the following topics as part of the program:

(1)
The science and anatomy of different hair textures and care practices
for textured hair, based on the books and other teachings of Dr.
Willie Morrow;

(2)
Training in styling techniques for textured hair, such as braiding,
locking, twisting, weaving, or other natural, protective, or cultural
hair styles;

(3)
Training in hair and scalp care for textured hair, such as treatment
options including deep conditioning and hot oil massages or other
services to improve moisture retention, curl definition, or hair
strengthening;

(4)
The significance of hair care for textured hair and natural,
protective, or cultural hair styles.

(D)
The board shall adopt rules under section 4713.08 of the Revised Code
that are necessary for the administration of the program, including
eligibility requirements for a school to receive a grant, the amounts
in which grants may be made, and the total amount that may be awarded
to a school.

Section
2.
That
existing section 4713.08 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.

Section
3.
All
items in this act are hereby appropriated as designated out of any
moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the designated fund.
For all operating appropriations made in this act, those in the first
column are for fiscal year 2026 and those in the second column are
for fiscal year 2027. The operating appropriations made in this act
are in addition to any other operating appropriations made for these
fiscal years.

1

2

3

4

5

A

COS
COSMETOLOGY AND BARBER BOARD

B

General
Revenue Fund

C

GRF

879500

Grant
Programs

$1,000,000

$0

D

TOTAL
GRF General Revenue Fund

$1,000,000

$0

E

TOTAL
ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS

$1,000,000

$0

Section
4.
Within
the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and
Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount
of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine
the manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained.
Expenditures from operating appropriations contained in this act
shall be accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all
applicable provisions of, H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly.