All Roll Calls
Yes: 104 • No: 0
IdahoH 05142026 regular legislative sessionHouseWALLET
BARBER AND COSMETOLOGY SERVICES – Amends existing law to provide for the taking of examinations upon completion of eighty percent of education hours.
Sponsored By: BUSINESS COMMITTEE
Signed by Governor
BARBER AND COSMETOLOGY SERVICES
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Required training hours for beauty licenses
Beginning July 1, 2026, the law sets minimum hours to get each license. Barber: 900 school hours or 1,800 apprentice hours. Barber-stylist: 1,500 school hours or 3,000 apprentice hours. Cosmetologist: 1,600 school hours or 3,200 apprentice hours. Electrologist: 600 school hours or 1,200 apprentice hours under a licensed electrologist instructor. Esthetician: 600 school hours or 1,200 apprentice hours under a licensed cosmetology instructor; the shop must have a licensed esthetician on site. Nail technician: 400 school hours or 800 apprentice hours under direct supervision; the shop must have a licensed nail technician on site.
Students can take exam at 80%
Beginning July 1, 2026, a student may take the licensure exam after finishing 80% of the required hours. A “student” is someone who meets the board’s two-years-of-high-school (or equivalent) rule and is registered in a licensed school. High school enrollees may be under age 16 1/2 while they build licensure hours. To be an apprentice, you must be at least 16 1/2, have two years of high school or equivalent, have no disqualifying conduct, and register with the board.
Basic license rules and checks
Beginning July 1, 2026, license applicants must be at least 16 1/2 and have two years of high school or equivalent. They must pass a board-conducted or board-approved exam. They must also prove they have not engaged in conduct that is grounds for discipline under Idaho Code 54-5823. These checks apply to all barber and cosmetology licenses.
New standards to become an instructor
Beginning July 1, 2026, instructors must hold a current license in the field. They must meet one of these: 5 of the last 7 years of licensed work; a 6-month teacher course; or a 3-month teacher course plus 2 years of licensed experience. They must also complete 12 college credits or pass a board-approved exam.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Tammy Nichols
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 2/18/2026
House Floor Vote
Yes: 35 • No: 0
House vote • 2/2/2026
House Floor Vote
Yes: 69 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Reported Signed by Governor on February 23, 2026 Session Law Chapter 5 Effective: 07/01/2026
2/25/2026Delivered to Governor at 2:05 p.m. on February 23, 2026
2/24/2026Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
2/23/2026HouseReceived from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
2/20/2026SenateReturned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
2/19/2026HouseRead third time in full – PASSED - 35-0-0
2/18/2026HouseRead second time; filed for Third Reading
2/12/2026HouseReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
2/11/2026HouseReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
2/3/2026SenateRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 69-0-1
2/2/2026HouseU.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, February 2, 2026
1/30/2026HouseRead second time; Filed for Third Reading
1/29/2026HouseReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
1/28/2026HouseReported Printed and Referred to Business
1/23/2026HouseIntroduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
1/22/2026House
Bill Text
Bill Text
Related Bills
H 0889 — STATE PROCUREMENT – Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law regarding the procurement of property by the State of Idaho.
S 1435 — APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES – Relates to the maintenance appropriations to the Department of Health and Welfare and the State Independent Living Council for fiscal year 2027.
S 1429 — APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH AND WELFARE – BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES – Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Behavioral Health Services Division for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
S 1410 — MEDICAID – Adds to existing law to provide legislative approval for the Department of Health and Welfare to submit a state plan amendment regarding change in encounter rate due to change in scope of services.
S 1439 — EDUCATION – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Model School Facility Council.
S 1433 — APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH AND WELFARE – MEDICAID – Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.