# Arkansas HB1440: TO AMEND THE MASSAGE THERAPY ACT; AND TO ESTABLISH REGISTRATION FOR MASSAGE THERAPY ESTABLISHMENTS. Arkansas HB1440, TO AMEND THE MASSAGE THERAPY ACT; AND TO ESTABLISH REGISTRATION FOR MASSAGE THERAPY ESTABLISHMENTS., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Mary Bentley (Republican), Dave Wallace (Republican); status enacted, last action 2025-04-16 (Notification that HB1440 is now Act 629); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-16). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1440-2025 - As of: 2026-10-16 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Arkansas HB1440 - State: Arkansas - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: TO AMEND THE MASSAGE THERAPY ACT; AND TO ESTABLISH REGISTRATION FOR MASSAGE THERAPY ESTABLISHMENTS. - Status: enacted - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-02-10 - Last action: 2025-04-16, Notification that HB1440 is now Act 629 - Sponsors: Mary Bentley (Republican), Dave Wallace (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (124 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - New registration rules for massage businesses: cost, low. Arkansas massage businesses must register with the Department of Health before opening or operating. Applications must list principals and licensed therapists, with proof of principals’ business interests. State good-standing certificates and local business licenses are required when applicable. In… - Stronger penalties for massage sexual misconduct: mixed, medium. Sexual misconduct and specified breast-massage violations require license or registration revocation lasting at least three years. The advisory committee must review and approve requests to restore a license. The breast-massage rule addresses massage outside the law’s specified therapeutic and medi… - Massage operators face discipline and fines: mixed, medium. Massage license and registration holders face discipline for employing, contracting with, or allowing people without current licenses or learning permits to perform massage techniques. Operating without establishment registration is also grounds for discipline. The advisory committee may impose a $… - Massage businesses face hygiene and inspection rules: mixed, low. Massage businesses must provide an accessible restroom and hand-washing sink with hot and cold water and soap. Towels and sheets must be laundered before reuse; workers with diseases spread by contact must stop work until safe. Businesses must clearly display their official registration. The Depart… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Mary Bentley (Republican), House - Sponsor: Dave Wallace (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-09 | Senate | Senate Vote - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 5:55:11 PM | pass | 29 | 1 | 5 | | 2025-02-26 | House | House Vote - Wednesday, February 26, 2025 2:50:03 PM | pass | 95 | 0 | | ## Actions (16) - 2025-04-16: Notification that HB1440 is now Act 629 (House) - 2025-04-10: Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office. (House) - 2025-04-09: TO BE ENROLLED (House) - 2025-04-09: Returned from the Senate as passed. (House) - 2025-04-09: Returned to the House as passed. (Senate) - 2025-04-09: Read the third time and passed. (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass (Senate) - 2025-02-26: Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE (Senate) - 2025-02-26: Received from the House. (Senate) - 2025-02-26: Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate. (House) - 2025-02-25: Returned by the Committee Do Pass (House) - 2025-02-24: REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED (House) - 2025-02-24: Amendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed. (House) - 2025-02-24: Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment. (House) - 2025-02-10: Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE- HOUSE (House) - 2025-02-10: Filed (House) ## Bill text - HB1440 - Introduced, 2025-02-10: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FHB1440.pdf) - Act Version: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=629.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R) ## Related bills - HB1265: AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. (enacted) - HB1686: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS. (failed) - HB1237: TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO SET PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION OF SOLICITATION OF INJURED INDIV… (failed) - SB440: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE USE OF ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS; AND TO REGULATE ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS FACILITIES. (failed) - HB1695: TO CLARIFY THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS FOR PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A MUNICIPAL LIEN; TO ALLOW A MUNICIPALITY TO PETITION TO SET ASIDE THE SALE OF PROPERTY TO CERTAIN P… (failed) - HR1012: TO AMEND THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO REQUIRE THAT A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BE SELECTED A… (failed) ## Sources - [HB1440 - Introduced (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FHB1440.pdf) - [Act Version (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=629.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R) ## Related - [HB1265: AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1265-2025) - [HB1686: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1686-2025) - [HB1237: TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1237-2025) - [SB440: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE US…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-SB440-2025) - [HB1695: TO CLARIFY THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS FOR PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A MUNICIPAL LIEN; TO…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1695-2025) - [HR1012: TO AMEND THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HR1012-2025) - [Arkansas bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/arkansas/bills) - [Arkansas state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/arkansas) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1440-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).