Committee exempts film makeup and hairstyling from cosmetology licensing; sponsors cite industry impact

Senate Bill 127, an exemption from the Barbers and Cosmetology Act for makeup artists and hairstylists working on motion-picture productions, received a due-pass recommendation in committee after industry representatives warned licensing enforcement would harm film production in New Mexico.

Sponsor Senator Trujillo told the committee the bill is narrowly tailored to exempt on-set makeup artists and hairstylists who apply character or special-effects makeup rather than provide the broader services covered by licensed cosmetologists. The New Mexico Film Office said the state's film economy was worth about $760 million in fiscal year 2024 and argued that if enforcement of licensing were to expand, it could jeopardize 80–90 percent of that activity, with downstream job losses.

Union representatives from IATSE Local 480 and longtime industry practitioners testified in support. Tara Day, a 30-year film makeup artist, told the committee that jurisdictions with sizeable film industries do not require a cosmetology or aesthetician license for on-set makeup work and that productions rely on traveling and hired-on-set artists.

Committee members asked about scope and whether other performing-arts settings (theater, touring productions, opera) might require similar language; sponsors acknowledged the exemption could be broadened in future amendments to cover other on-site performance makeup. The committee also heard that enforcement efforts by the Barbers and Cosmetology Board had been limited historically but that a single enforcement action had prompted industry concern.

The committee's voice/roll-call returned a favorable recommendation (9 yes, 0 no). The bill now moves to the next committee listed on the calendar.