Committee approves package of professional-practice and building-code regulations; massage-therapy sanitation rules among notable changes
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Summary
The committee reported a set of professional-practice and building-code regulations favorably, including new sanitation and endorsement language for massage therapy, accountancy regulation changes to conform with Act 34 of 2025 (to be resubmitted), auctioneer reciprocity rules and online-auction definitions, and multiple building-code continuations (plumbing, residential, electric, fire, fuel gas, mechanical).
The Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee reviewed and reported favorably a package of proposed regulations affecting licensed professions and building codes.
Rebecca, committee staff, summarized each rule. Key changes in the Massage Therapy Board regulation include simplified endorsement licensure standards (substantial-equivalency via prior licensure or approved exam), a clarifying approach to continuing-education language tied to biannual renewal, and expanded sanitation requirements: linens must be laundered before reuse, fleece must be changed after each client and laundered before reuse, nonremovable table coverings must be cleaned or disinfected, and implements must be cleaned or disinfected after each use. The regulation also clarifies that beds are prohibited in establishments, sole-practitioner establishments are subject to control requirements, and residential practice spaces are subject to departmental inspection.
Rebecca told members the proposed Board of Accountancy regulation is intended to conform regulations to Act 34 of 2025; the House reviewed the rule and recommended withdrawing and resubmitting to strike a section on alternative practice structures after concerns raised by the CPA Association. The committee approved the regulation with the understanding that resubmission would follow.
The committee also approved changes for auctioneers (reciprocal licensure standards, digital CE uploads, expanded first-years CE credit, and a definition of online auctions as virtual platforms) and a real-estate regulation that incorporates frequently asked questions into regulation and clarifies advertising and supervisory responsibilities in conformance with Act 204 of 2024.
Multiple building-code updates (plumbing, residential, electric, international fire, fuel gas and mechanical codes) were presented as continuations tied to adoption of model codes by the Building Codes Council; the committee approved each by voice vote with limited debate. Senators noted that most of these are continuations and that code council review had been completed.
Each regulation was reported favorably by voice vote in committee; where issues were identified (for example the accountancy alternative-practice-structure language), staff noted planned resubmission or correction.