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Committee approves exemption to cosmetology license for natural hair braiding
Summary
The Labor, Health & Social Services Committee approved Senate File 113 to exempt natural hair braiding from Wyoming's cosmetology licensure requirements, supporters said the change would reduce barriers to entry and create jobs; the measure passed the committee 5-0.
The Labor, Health & Social Services Committee on Jan. 27 approved Senate File 113, a bill that would exempt the practice of natural hair braiding from the state's cosmetology licensing requirements. Sponsor Senator Hutchings presented the measure and the committee voted 5-0 to approve it.
Supporters told the committee the exemption would remove costly training barriers and create local business opportunities. "Other than passing the bill on homicide amendments, this is probably one of the most important bills that I've been involved in. It's a bill that's gonna be a win win for everybody... and it's gonna be a job creator for our state," Senator Hutchings said when she introduced SF113.
The bill, described by Hutchings as the "Braider Opportunity Act," adds a definition of "natural hair braiding" and states the exemption applies to any person "solely engaged" in that practice. Liana Gunn, who identified herself as the owner of Ethnic Care Care, said many braiders lack the resources to attend cosmetology programs and would be able to work under salon mentorships if the exemption passes. "This bill is particularly important to us because there are so many talented braiders out there that don't have the luxury of being able to go to school," Gunn testified.
Advocacy groups and legal experts also testified in favor. Lexi Daugherty of Americans for Prosperity urged the committee to reduce what she described as "excessive barriers" in cosmetology. Sophie Mars of the Institute for Justice said most states have removed or narrowed licensure for hair braiding: she told the committee that 35 states have fully exempted braiding from cosmetology licensure and that Wyoming is one of only a few states that still require full cosmetology training for braiders. Mars added that the current requirement for braiders in Wyoming is a 1,000‑hour training standard and that specialty licensing elsewhere is being repealed.
Committee members asked technical questions about the bill's lists of tools and devices used in braiding, and Hutchings said she would confer with the cosmetology board about drafting a "not limited to" phrase to ensure commonly used devices are covered. No opposition witnesses testified in the committee hearing.
The committee adopted the bill on a roll-call vote reported as five ayes and no nays. The transcript records Senators Krum, Hutchings, Scott, Steinmetz and Chairman Barlow voting aye.
