House Bill 279 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kenyatte HassellRepresentative

Democrat

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering; adoption of Esthetics Licensure Compact

Summary

HB279 would adopt the Esthetics Licensure Compact to create a multistate esthetician license and a shared regulatory framework across member states, with Alabama as a participating state.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds the Esthetics Licensure Compact to Alabama law, establishing a multistate license issued by a licensee's home state and recognized in all member states. It creates a governing Commission to oversee multistate Licenses, rules, data sharing, and enforcement, and requires member states to maintain education, examination, and disciplinary processes consistent with the compact. It provides for information sharing, joint investigations, and coordinated discipline, with the home state retaining primary authority to impose adverse actions on a multistate license and other states enforcing actions within their borders. It also includes protections for active duty military members and spouses and sets an implementation date of October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Estheticians licensed in Alabama (or applying for licensure) who may obtain and use a multistate license to practice in other member states, subject to home-state rules and requirements.
• Alabama consumers who receive esthetics services, benefiting from standardized cross-state regulation, shared enforcement information, and potentially broader access to qualified practitioners.

Key Provisions

• Adopts the Esthetics Licensure Compact as Article 3 to Chapter 7B, Title 34, adding a multistate licensing framework for estheticians.
• Establishes a Multistate License issued by a licensee's home state and recognized in all member states; home state regulates licensure and scope of practice while remote states regulate practice within their borders.
• Home state has exclusive power to take adverse action against a licensee's multistate license; remote states may take adverse action against the authorization to practice in their state; a home-state adverse action deactivates the multistate license in all member states.
• Creates the Esthetics Licensure Compact Commission to govern rules, data sharing, budgets, and enforcement; includes an executive committee and annual reporting.
• Implements a coordinated data system with unique identifiers to track licensure, adverse actions, investigations, and compliance across states.
• Requires member states to meet certain baseline requirements (licensure of estheticians, complaint handling, competency exams, and background checks) and to share information about disciplinary actions.
• Provisions to facilitate active duty military members and spouses, including designation of a home state during service.
• Allows reissuance of a multistate license when a licensee moves to a new home state; details procedures for activation, deactivation, and potential background checks.
• Effective date set for October 1, 2026, with mechanisms for withdrawal, amendments, and transition considerations.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 11, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Occupational Licensing Boards