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Committee rejects amendment that would have excluded massage therapy from apprenticeship program bill
Summary
The committee considered House Bill 336 (apprenticeship programs for certain license types) and debated an amendment to remove the Board of Massage Therapy from apprenticeship eligibility because of concerns about human trafficking and safety. The amendment failed and the underlying bill passed and will move to the floor.
The committee took up House Bill 336, which would provide apprenticeship pathways for certain professional license types. A proposed amendment would have omitted the Board of Massage Therapy from eligible apprenticeship programs; proponents of the omission cited concerns over safety and the prevalence of human-trafficking risks in the massage industry.
Supporters of keeping massage therapy within the apprenticeship framework argued that apprenticeship pathways could be structured to include direct one‑on‑one supervision, background checks and other safeguards that prevent exploitation while preserving career pathways for legitimate practitioners. One member explained that licensed massage therapists could supervise apprentices in a hands‑on setting, enabling oversight and reducing risk.
Opponents of the amendment said they worried the change could close opportunities for people seeking a career path in massage therapy. After a roll-call vote the amendment failed and the committee then voted to concur in House Bill 336 as drafted; the bill will go to the Senate floor.
The committee recorded proxy votes during the amendment and final votes. The record shows both safety concerns and workforce-development arguments were central to the debate.
