# Utah H.B. 278: Massage Therapy Amendments Utah H.B. 278, Massage Therapy Amendments, is a 2025 General Session House bill sponsored by Norman K Thurston (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-03-25 (Governor Signed); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB278-2025GS - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Utah H.B. 278 - State: Utah - Session: 2025 General Session - Title: Massage Therapy Amendments - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-20 - Last action: 2025-03-25, Governor Signed - Sponsor: Norman K Thurston (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Business, Commerce and Trade, Consumer Protection, Health and Human Services, Health Care Professionals, Crimes, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Sexual Offenses, Massage Therapists, Occupational and Professional Licensing - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 15 (200 yes, 2 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 17 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Massage clients get clear touching protections: benefit, medium. Massage providers must be licensed or exempt and stay within their permitted scope of work. Providers cannot touch a client's genitals or anus, including with an instrument or device. Breast massage for a female client requires her request and written consent before each procedure. A parent or lega… - Massage clients get provider and complaint information: benefit, low. Before first providing massage to a client, the provider must obtain a completed, signed intake form. Before scheduling or agreement, clients must receive the provider's first name, last initial, and license type. During services, providers must display their full name and license type. Providers w… - Practitioner landlords gain limited liability protection: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, a sole practitioner renting space to another sole practitioner has protection from liability for the tenant's actions. The tenant must be a Utah-licensed massage therapist in good standing when the rental or lease begins. The landlord must obtain a signed statement that t… - Massage workers face licensing and training requirements: cost, high. Beginning October 1, 2025, Utah requires a license to provide, advertise, or receive payment for massage services, unless exempt. Paid services advertised as massage fall within the rules even without physical contact. Massage therapist applicants must pass an exam and complete approved schooling,… - Massage businesses face stricter operating rules: cost, medium. Massage establishments cannot operate without valid registration or allow unlicensed, nonexempt providers. They cannot house or shelter people, allow sexual acts or arrangements, or display adult merchandise or sexually oriented advertising. They must immediately report specified disorderly conduct… - Massage businesses must register and renew: cost, medium. Each nonexempt massage establishment needs its own registration, including separate businesses at the same address. Registrations cannot be transferred, and owners are responsible for establishment activities. Businesses must use licensed or exempt providers and keep employment or contract records… - Massage owners face screening and registration bans: cost, medium. Owners must apply, pay a fee, document business and facility compliance and possession rights, and attest against listed illegal activities. Multiple owners must choose one owner to register the establishment; the division can request proof of continuing possession rights. Screening covers people h… - Massage insurance coverage remains optional: cost, low. This law does not require insurers or other third-party payors to cover or reimburse massage services. Insurance carriers can still choose to offer coverage. Clients must check their plan's terms to learn whether it pays for massage. - Massage licenses have firm renewal deadlines: cost, low. Massage licenses generally renew every two years. The division can shorten or extend the cycle by up to one year. Apprentice licenses expire 24 months after issuance; assistant-in-training licenses expire after six months. Those training licenses can be renewed or extended only when hardship or an… - Massage applicants face fingerprint background checks: mixed, high. Massage license applicants must be at least 18, submit fingerprints, consent to state and federal checks, and disclose requested criminal history. Applicants pay fingerprint-processing fees, and new licenses remain conditional until screening is complete. Inaccurate criminal-history disclosure trig… - Massage assistant pathways end in 2029: mixed, high. Massage assistant applicants must pass a required exam and qualify through one of three paths. One path requires 300 education and training hours while enrolled in massage school. Another requires 150 directly supervised and 150 indirectly supervised hours as an assistant-in-training, plus required… - Massage violations carry substantial administrative fines: mixed, high. Beginning October 1, 2025, specified individual and establishment violations can draw administrative fines and additional or alternative rule-based penalties. Penalties can reach $10,000 per single violation or $2,000 per day for an ongoing violation. The division must issue citations within one ye… - Massage workers face supervision and safety rules: mixed, medium. Assistant-in-training and apprentice applicants must show they have the required supervision. Assistants-in-training generally need direct supervision, but may complete 150 hours under indirect supervision. Massage assistants can provide limited massage without supervision after 300 indirectly supe… - Massage practice locations face limits and exemptions: mixed, medium. Providers who are not sole practitioners must work at registered establishments, out-call locations, or locations exempt from registration. Sole practitioners can use out-call locations or property they own, rent, or lease. Home practice is allowed only when the sole practitioner does not employ or… - Visiting massage providers get limited exemptions: mixed, low. Qualified visitors can provide massage without a Utah license for up to 30 days for presentations, disaster response, or licensed-provider consultations. They need a valid credential from another U.S. jurisdiction or foreign country. Visitors from U.S. jurisdictions without massage regulation can i… - Massage inspections require access and privacy safeguards: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Utah inspectors can enter massage establishments and examine or copy relevant records and materials. Owners or managers must provide access to all areas, staff, and requested records. Inspectors must identify themselves, request the establishment registration, and explain… - Utah can suspend massage operations quickly: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Utah can suspend a massage license or establishment registration without prior notice in specified cases. This authority covers a pattern of credible facts showing attempted operation of a prostitution enterprise, or involvement in human trafficking. The trafficking autho… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Norman K Thurston (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Evan J. Vickers (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-03-05 | House | House/ concurs with Senate amendment | pass | 75 | 0 | | | 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate/ uncircled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate/ circled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension | pass | 25 | 0 | | | 2025-03-04 | Senate | Senate/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-03-03 | Senate | Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation | pass | 4 | 0 | | | 2025-03-03 | Senate | Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 4 | 0 | | | 2025-02-28 | Senate | Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation | pass | 4 | 0 | | | 2025-02-28 | Senate | Senate Comm - Motion to Recommend Failed | fail | 2 | 2 | | | 2025-02-21 | House | House/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 68 | 0 | | | 2025-02-13 | House | House Comm - Substitute Recommendation | pass | 9 | 0 | | | 2025-02-13 | House | House Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 9 | 0 | | | | Senate | Senate/ uncircled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | | Senate | Senate/ circled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | | Senate | Senate/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | ## Actions (43) - 2025-03-25: Governor Signed - 2025-03-13: House/ to Governor (House) - 2025-03-13: House/ received enrolled bill from Printing (House) - 2025-03-12: House/ enrolled bill to Printing (House) - 2025-03-12: Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate - 2025-03-06: Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared - 2025-03-06: Bill Received from House for Enrolling - 2025-03-06: House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling (House) - 2025-03-06: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2025-03-05: Senate/ to House (Senate) - 2025-03-05: Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House (Senate) - 2025-03-05: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2025-03-05: House/ to Senate (House) - 2025-03-05: House/ concurs with Senate amendment (House) - 2025-03-05: House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar (House) - 2025-03-05: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2025-03-04: Senate/ to House with amendments (Senate) - 2025-03-04: Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension (Senate) - 2025-03-04: Senate/ substituted (Senate) - 2025-03-04: Senate/ uncircled (Senate) - 2025-03-04: Senate/ circled (Senate) - 2025-03-04: Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension (Senate) - 2025-03-04: Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar (Senate) - 2025-03-04: Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted (Senate) - 2025-03-03: Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (Senate) - 2025-03-03: Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation (Senate) - 2025-02-28: Senate Comm - Motion to Recommend Failed (Senate) - 2025-02-28: Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation (Senate) - 2025-02-25: Senate/ to standing committee (Senate) - 2025-02-21: Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced) (Senate) - 2025-02-21: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2025-02-21: House/ to Senate (House) - 2025-02-21: House/ passed 3rd reading (House) - 2025-02-21: House/ 3rd reading (House) - 2025-02-14: House/ 2nd reading (House) - 2025-02-14: House/ comm rpt/ substituted (House) - 2025-02-13: House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (House) - 2025-02-13: House Comm - Substitute Recommendation (House) - 2025-01-31: House/ to standing committee (House) - 2025-01-24: House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst (House) - 2025-01-21: House/ 1st reading (Introduced) (House) - 2025-01-21: House/ received bill from Legislative Research (House) - 2025-01-20: Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2025-03-12: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/enrolled/HB0278.pdf) - Substitute #4, 2025-03-04: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0278S04.pdf) - Substitute #3, 2025-03-03: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0278S03.pdf) - Substitute #2, 2025-02-27: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0278S02.pdf) - Substitute #1, 2025-02-13: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0278S01.pdf) - Introduced, 2025-01-20: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0278.pdf) ## Related bills - S.B. 199: Guardianship Amendments (signed) - H.B. 562: Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Amendments (signed) - H.B. 493: Medical Examiner Amendments (signed) - H.B. 482: Health and Human Services Reporting Requirements (signed) - S.B. 197: Property Tax Amendments (vetoed) - S.B. 3: Appropriations Adjustments (signed) ## Sources - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/enrolled/HB0278.pdf) - [Substitute #4 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0278S04.pdf) - [Substitute #3 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0278S03.pdf) - [Substitute #2 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0278S02.pdf) - [Substitute #1 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0278S01.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0278.pdf) ## Related - [S.B. 199: Guardianship Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB199-2025GS) - [H.B. 562: Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB562-2025GS) - [H.B. 493: Medical Examiner Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB493-2025GS) - [H.B. 482: Health and Human Services Reporting Requirements](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB482-2025GS) - [S.B. 197: Property Tax Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB197-2025GS) - [S.B. 3: Appropriations Adjustments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB3-2025GS) - [Utah bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/utah/bills) - [Utah state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/utah) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB278-2025GS (as of 2026-10-17).