New Hampshire HB 1469: relative to the licensing requirements for massage therapy establishments.

Bill Text

HB 1469-FN-A - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

19Feb2026... 0615h

26Mar2026... 1187h

05/14/2026 1865s

2026 SESSION

 26-3052

 09/06

HOUSE BILL 1469-FN-A

AN ACT relative to the licensing requirements for massage therapy establishments.

SPONSORS: Rep. Foote, Rock. 13; Rep. Grote, Rock. 24; Rep. Nelson, Rock. 13; Rep. Rhodes, Ches. 17; Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Rep. Rice, Hills. 38; Rep. N. Murphy, Hills. 12; Rep. D. Mannion, Rock. 25; Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 25; Rep. Milz, Rock. 13; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Abbas, Dist 22; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill requires massage establishments to be licensed and regulated by the office of professional licensure and certification (OPLC). The bill also allows for compensation of members of the advisory board of massage therapists.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19Feb2026... 0615h

26Mar2026... 1187h

05/14/2026 1865s 26-3052

 09/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the licensing requirements for massage therapy establishments.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Massage Therapists and Massage Establishments; Regulation. Amend RSA 328-B:1 to read as follows: 

 328-B:1 Regulation of Massage Therapists and Massage Establishments. The general court, to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the state of New Hampshire, establishes a regulatory program for massage therapists, including establishing basic qualifications for licensure of massage therapists and massage establishments. 

 2 Massage Therapists and Massage Establishments. RSA 328-B:2, VII is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: 

 VII. “Massage establishment” means a commercial location where massage is advertised, and where massage is performed by more than one licensed massage therapist. "Massage establishment" does not include locations where massage is offered as an adjunct to medical care in a location or facility operated by licensed health care professionals operating within their scope of practice, temporary and incidental massage offered in the open in public accommodations, or other exceptions as permitted by rules. 

 3 New Paragraph; Massage Therapists and Massage Establishments; Definitions. Amend RSA 328-B:2 by inserting after paragraph VIII the following new paragraph: 

 IX. “Sole proprietor” means any person who owns a business by himself or herself and does not have any employees within his or her business. 

 4 New Paragraphs; Massage Therapists and Massage Establishments; Prohibited Acts. Amend RSA 328-B:3 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraphs: 

 VII. Operate an establishment without an establishment license. 

 VIII. Operate an establishment unless such establishment is at all times under the direct supervision and management of a professional licensed under this chapter. 

 5 New Paragraph; Massage Therapists and Massage Establishments; Rulemaking. Amend RSA 328-B:4 by inserting after paragraph VII the following new paragraph: 

 VIII. Pursuant to 541-A, adopt rules to regulate massage establishments, including: 

 (a) Standards for licensing massage establishments.

 (b) Conditions, requirements, and standards for operation under an establishment

license, including health and safety standards.

 (c) Standards for inspections of establishments.

 (d) Requirements to open, close, relocate, or renew an establishment. 

 (e) Requiring public display of licensure and secure recordkeeping procedures. 

 (f) Qualifications for exemption of schools, health facilities, or others from massage establishment license requirements in RSA 328-B:14. 

 (g) Required documentation to verify sole proprietor or independent contractor designation. 

 (h) Procedures for notifying law enforcement of suspected unlawful activity.

 6 Massage Therapists and Massage Establishments; Advisory Board. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 328-B:5 to read as follows: 

 328-B:5 Advisory Board of Massage Therapists. 

 The executive director shall establish the advisory board of massage therapists. The board shall consist of 3 massage therapists who are licensees in the state of New Hampshire. The members shall be appointed for 3 years, staggered so that the term of one member expires each year, and they shall hold office until successors are appointed[, and shall serve on the board without any compensation]. In no event shall a me