Committee hears bill to exempt theatrical and cinematic makeup artists and hairstylists from cosmetology licensing

The House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 127, which would amend the Barbers and Cosmetology Act to exempt makeup artists and hairstylists who are employed on theatrical and cinematic productions from state cosmetology licensing requirements.

Advocates told the committee the change seeks to align New Mexico with other states that support film production and to avoid discouraging shoots and jobs. "Senate Bill 127 amends the Barbers and Cosmetology Act to add an exemption for makeup artists and hairstylists," said Senator (sponsor), the bill sponsor, during the committee presentation.

Supporters said the film and television industry in New Mexico has grown and that the technical work performed by theatrical makeup artists and hairstylists — including prosthetics and special-effects makeup for characters — differs from services covered by cosmetology and aesthetician licenses. Steven Mullen, business representative for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 480, told the committee the exemption would reduce uncertainty for productions. "I just like to encourage you to support this bill because it would ... create an uncertainty that could very likely discourage productions to come here," Mullen said.

Committee members asked how artists in the industry obtain skills and whether public-health protections would be affected. Representative DeRaza pressed for assurances that health standards would remain in place, saying, "I just wanna make sure that we don't get away from our health standards." The sponsor and supporters replied that theatrical artists generally train through years of industry apprenticeship and that productions, not individual practitioners, typically carry liability and safety responsibility on set.

Committee commenters noted a recent enforcement action: the Barbers and Cosmetology Board pursued a hairstylist who historically worked in film, prompting the bill. The sponsor said an amendment replaced the phrase "motion pictures" with "theatrical and cinematic" after advocates raised concerns that venues such as Popejoy Hall and the Santa Fe Opera could be affected. Committee testimony said cosmetology licensure in New Mexico requires more than 1,500 hours of training and can take roughly a year and a half to two years to complete — a threshold that proponents said does not reflect many industry workflows.

Supporters also said most film hair and makeup positions on New Mexico sets are filled by local artists. "The productions actually ... we're employing about 90% local, the hair and makeup," a supporter told the committee. Witnesses noted local artists have performed advanced prosthetics work and that some have received industry recognition; a witness said one local artist was an Emmy nominee for work on a production called "Loud House." The committee also heard that no other state requires licensing of hair and makeup artists who work specifically in film and theatrical production, according to the sponsor's remarks.

A motion that the committee recommend the bill "do pass" was made during the hearing. The provided transcript segment does not include a roll-call vote or final committee action on SB127. The committee asked whether any members opposed the bill during the hearing; no recorded opposition appears in the provided segment.

If advanced, the bill would change which workers must hold state cosmetology or aesthetician licenses; supporters said the intent is to preserve public-health protections where the public is a client while removing a licensing barrier for professionals employed by productions.

The committee hearing record in the provided transcript ends after members' questions and the motion; next steps were not recorded in the supplied segment.