Committee hears bills to allow temporary permits so barbers and cosmetologists can give free haircuts to veterans

The Michigan House Regulatory Reform Committee heard a bipartisan package—House Bills 43,94 and 43,95—that would create a temporary, one-year $20 permit allowing licensed barbers and cosmetologists to provide haircuts at veteran service organizations.

Representative Whitworth, joined by Representative Regas, introduced the bills and said they would amend the Occupational Code (Public Act 299 of 1980) and the State License Fee Act (Public Act 152 of 1979) by adding the temporary permit. "Any interested and already licensed cosmetologist or barber in Michigan can apply for this temporary one-year $20 permit ... that would allow them to travel to veteran service organizations in their communities and offer haircutting to their local veterans," Whitworth said. The bill defines veteran service organizations as veteran-led nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is supporting veterans and gave examples such as American Legion posts and VFWs.

The sponsors said the measure is intended to reduce access barriers for veterans who, because of frailty, age, injury, or illness, may not be able to travel to a salon or barbershop. The sponsors are working on a substitute to add language that explicitly prohibits charging veterans a service fee for the haircut, to ensure the haircuts remain free and to guard against improper commercial activity under the permit.

Melissa Smith and Savannah Smith of Salon 83, who testified in support, described volunteer efforts to serve veterans and said the change would permit licensed professionals to provide those services more broadly and without regulatory uncertainty. "We're currently prohibited from rendering services anywhere other than the premises listed under the occupational code with the exception of shut-ins," one salon representative said, arguing the permit would simply expand a safe, volunteer practice.

Representative Dieben Dorf asked whether the bills could be expanded to cover homeless shelters; sponsors said the bills as written are specific to veteran service organizations but indicated willingness to discuss expanding coverage in a future hearing. No committee vote on either bill was recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.

Several veterans'service organizations and cosmetology schools filed support cards; Jack Devine of Vietnam Veterans of America and others were listed as supporters.

The committee did not report either bill during the excerpt provided; sponsors said they would work with stakeholders on language and a substitute to ensure the services remain free to veterans.