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Hundreds testify against licensure bill for alternative healing therapies; critics cite access, religious liberty and lack of trafficking evidence
Summary
Dozens of practitioners, patients and some health professionals opposed S.261/H.422, a bill proposing state licensure and training standards for a wide range of alternative and energy‑based healing practices. Witnesses said the measure would restrict access, harm volunteers and likely fail to address organized trafficking.
A large and sustained public comment period at the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure brought dozens of practitioners, patients and a physician to the microphone to oppose Senate Bill S.261 (and related House bills), which would create state licensure and training standards for a broad set of alternative and complementary healing practices.
Those testifying against the bill included Reiki masters, energy healers, somatic educators, Feldenkrais teachers, and a number of patients and clinicians who said they rely on non‑medical modalities. Several speakers described personal health benefits they attributed to such therapies and warned that state licensure, as drafted, would make many small practices economically unviable.
“Passage of this bill will put countless providers out of business and restrict access to these services,”…
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