All Roll Calls
Yes: 232 • No: 0
CaliforniaAB 15042025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
California Massage Therapy Council.
Sponsored By: Marc Berman (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.
Massage workers face stricter discipline and suspensions
Sexual conduct and sexual advertising are banned and can lead to denial, suspension, or revocation. If you are arrested and charged with certain crimes, the council must suspend your certificate right away, notify parties within 10 business days, revoke after a conviction (with 15 days to contest), and reinstate if charges are dropped or you are acquitted. The council may also suspend immediately for a sexual crime or related felony on a preponderance finding; you can request an oral hearing held within 30 days. The council can impose probation, suspend up to one year, or revoke for misconduct. You must request an internal appeal in writing within 30 days, and any court challenge must start within 90 days.
Rules to get massage certification
You must be at least 18 and complete 500 hours of approved training, with at least 100 hours in core topics. Since January 1, 2019, no council exam is required. Starting January 1, 2026, schools must tell students the exam is not required for council certification. The council can certify you if you hold an out‑of‑state license with equal or stricter rules, and it may credit comparable outside training. You must pass a background check, pay fees, and provide proof; the council may investigate your application. If you meet the requirements, the council must issue your certificate.
Help if your school lost approval
The council must count hours you finished before July 1, 2016 at a California school that later lost approval only because the NCBTMB disciplined that school. If your school was not under investigation when you started but later was and approval was revoked, you can seek an interview or educational hearing. You must apply within 90 days of the council’s final revocation decision, and the council must finish the interview or hearing within 12 months of a complete packet. If you pass, and the school was approved within 90 days of your submission and was in good standing with BPPE when you passed, the council must issue your certificate.
Clearer rules for massage schools and fees
The council must follow timelines on school approvals: 30 days to say if an application is complete, 60 days to fix missing items (one 30‑day extension), purge if not fixed, resubmit after 180 days, and act on initial applications within one year. Final denial decisions after hearings must be issued within one year. Approved institutions must report to the bureau within 30 days after first learning of investigations, judgments, regulatory actions, increased oversight, or settlements by other oversight entities, or face citation risk. Inspection and approval fees cannot be more than the council’s reasonable costs. The council must post key dates and outcomes of proposed denials or corrective‑action letters, and the law defines “investigation” and “oversight entity.”
Council rules, transparency, and 2030 sunset
The law creates the California Massage Therapy Council to run certification, led by a 13‑member board with set appointing groups. Board members serve four‑year terms, can serve two terms, and anyone who served 8 of the last 10 years by January 1, 2025 must leave by July 1, 2025. The appointing authority for a seat does not change midterm. The council can hire staff, make rules, and sign contracts, and it may require background checks for employees, contractors, volunteers, and board members. Pay for anyone working for the council cannot exceed the annual Government Code Section 11550 salary. Beginning July 1, 2027, the council, when possible, must provide records like a public agency and may charge direct costs. On January 1, 2030, this chapter is repealed unless extended by a later law.
Massage certification fees capped and transparent
Initial and renewal certificate fees cannot be more than $300 each. The board must review the renewal fee every two years. Before voting to raise fees, the board must give 90 days’ public notice; it can skip this only if two‑thirds find an active public‑safety threat. If fees go up, the council must update its website and email holders and applicants within 14 days. For major rule changes, the council must post the full text for at least 45 days, take written comments, and allow public comment at a meeting before final action.
Public materials offered in more languages
When many people contact the council in another language, the council offers public written and online materials in that language. This does not apply to exams, denial or disciplinary legal documents, or email. The council reported its findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2019.
ID, ads, and contact rules for workers
If you give paid massage, you must display your original certificate at the work site and carry your ID while working. You must give your name and certificate number on request and include them in all ads. Tell the council within 30 days if your legal name, home address, work address (some out‑call locations are excluded), or primary email changes.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Marc Berman
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 9/10/2025
Item 283 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 75 • No: 0
Senate vote • 9/9/2025
Item 225 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 35 • No: 0
legislature vote • 8/29/2025
Vote in CS61
Yes: 5 • No: 0
legislature vote • 8/18/2025
Vote in CS61
Yes: 7 • No: 0
legislature vote • 7/15/2025
Vote in CS72
Yes: 5 • No: 0
legislature vote • 6/30/2025
Vote in CS42
Yes: 7 • No: 0
House vote • 5/19/2025
Item 104 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 67 • No: 0
legislature vote • 5/14/2025
Vote in CX25
Yes: 15 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/29/2025
Vote in CX33
Yes: 16 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 197, Statutes of 2025.
10/1/2025SenateApproved by the Governor.
10/1/2025legislatureEnrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
9/22/2025legislatureSenate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 3244.).
9/10/2025HouseIn Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
9/9/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 2702.).
9/9/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
9/4/2025SenateRead third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9/3/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
8/29/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (August 29).
8/29/2025SenateIn committee: Referred to suspense file.
8/18/2025SenateRead second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7/16/2025SenateFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 15).
7/15/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
6/30/2025SenateFrom committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
6/26/2025SenateReferred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and PUB. S.
5/28/2025SenateIn Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
5/20/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 67. Noes 0. Page 1609.)
5/19/2025HouseRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
5/15/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
5/14/2025HouseRe-referred to Com. on APPR.
5/1/2025HouseRead second time and amended.
4/30/2025HouseFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 29).
4/29/2025HouseRe-referred to Com. on B. & P.
4/22/2025HouseFrom committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
4/21/2025House
Bill Text
Chaptered
10/1/2025
Enrolled
9/12/2025
Amended Senate
9/3/2025
Amended Senate
7/16/2025
Amended Senate
6/26/2025
Amended Assembly
4/30/2025
Amended Assembly
4/21/2025
Introduced
2/24/2025