South Carolina H 4186: Barbers and cosmetologists

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4186 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 20, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4186

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 
40-13-365 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE PORTABLE COSMETOLOGIST, ESTHETICIAN, OR NAIL 
TECHNICIAN OPERATIONS BY CERTAIN PERSONS LICENSED BY THE STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY, 
AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITTING AND OPERATING SUCH PORTABLE 
OPERATIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-7-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING 
PERSONS AND PRACTICES REGULATED BY THE STATE BOARD OF BARBER EXAMINERS, SO AS 
TO ADD A NECESSARY DEFINITION; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-7-390, RELATING TO 
CERTAIN PERSONS EXEMPT FROM REGULATION BY THE STATE BOARD OF BARBER EXAMINERS, 
SO AS TO EXEMPT PORTABLE OPERATIONS AND PERSONS PROVIDING EXPRESS StYLING 
SERVICES BUT NO SERVICES REQUIRING LICENSURE BY THE BOARD; BY AMENDING SECTION 
40-13-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING PERSONS AND PRACTICES REGULATED BY 
THE STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY, SO AS TO ADD NECESSARY DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING 
SECTION 40-13-110, RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR REVOCATION, SUSPENSION, OR 
RESTRICTION OF LICENSES ISSUED BY THE STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY, SO AS TO MAKE 
A CONFORMING CHANGE; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-13-360, RELATING TO CERTAIN PERSONS 
EXEMPT FROM REGULATION BY THE STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY, SO AS TO EXEMPT 
PERSONS PROVIDING MAKEUP ARTISTRY OR PERSONS PROVIDING EXPRESS STYLING SERVICES 
BUT NO SERVICES REQUIRING LICENSURE BY THE BOARD; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 
40-13-230, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSURE AS AN ESTHETICIAN, SO AS TO 
INCREASE THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF CLASS HOURS IN SKIN CARE AND TO EXEMPT STUDENTS 
ENROLLED IN ESTHETICIAN PROGRAMS BEFORE JULY 1, 2024 FROM THIS INCREASED 
REQUIREMENT.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Chapter 13, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

 Section 
40-13-365. (A)(1) An individual may 
operate a portable operation if the individual:

 (a) 
is licensed pursuant to this chapter to engage in cosmetologist, esthetician, 
or nail technician services; and

 (b) 
has been issued a current portable operation permit.

 (2) 
An individual may apply to the board for a portable cosmetologist, esthetician, 
or nail technician operation permit by submitting an application on a form 
prescribed by the board and paying the initial permit fee. The application 
shall include:

 (a) 
the home address of the applicant, provided that including the applicant's home 
address on the application does not authorize the applicant to conduct business 
at his home address; and

 (b) 
the portable operation's business telephone number. If other telephones are 
used in the operation of the portable operation, then the numbers for those 
telephones must also be included.

 (3) 
Upon application approval, the board shall issue a permit card to be carried by 
the cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician when practicing cosmetology 
pursuant to his permit.

 (4) 
A portable cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician operation permit must 
be biennially renewed by submitting a renewal application on a form prescribed 
by the board and paying a permit renewal fee.

 (5) 
The temporary location at which the portable operation permitee is providing 
services must have sufficient facilities to allow for the services provided to 
be performed in a safe and sanitary manner in accordance with applicable 
statutes and regulations.

 (B) A 
cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician may provide only those services 
in a portable operation within the scope of his credential type.

 (C) A 
portable operation permittee shall comply with all applicable federal, state, 
and local laws, regulations, and ordinances pertaining to the practice of 
cosmetology and with all applicable flammability, construction, sanitation, 
zoning, or infectious waste management guidelines; Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration guidelines; and federal Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention guidelines. The permittee shall maintain any applicable county and 
city licenses or permits, including business licenses, to operate the portable 
operation.

 (D) A 
portable operation permittee shall maintain a written or an electronic record 
of the street addresses where cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician 
services are provided during any two-week period.

 (E) A 
permit issued pursuant to this section is not transferable.

 (F) A 
cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician who violates a provision of this 
section or a regulation promulgated by the board pursuant to this section is 
subject to disciplinary action as may be determined by the board.

SECTION 2. Section 40-7-20 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Sec