TDLR convenes first Barbering and Cosmetology Advisory Board; work groups formed to implement HB 1560

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s Barbering and Cosmetology Advisory Board held its first meeting virtually, where members introduced themselves, received agency briefings and volunteered for four work groups to support implementation of House Bill 1560.

Presiding officer Mary Lindsey, a longtime cosmetology educator in Houston, opened the meeting and said the board’s role will be to advise staff during the statutory implementation process. TDLR staff repeatedly urged board members to familiarize themselves with the statute that drives the work. As outgoing Executive Director Brian Francis put it during introductions, “read House Bill 1560 and really look at what that language says.”

TDLR staff presented an overview of the agency’s open-government obligations, rulemaking process and the bill-implementation teams that will carry out statutory changes. Christina Kaiser, a deputy executive director, said TDLR has organized 28 bill-implementation teams, 10 of which focus on Sunset and HB 1560 tasks, including consolidation of barbering and cosmetology programs and changes to advisory-board structures.

The board organized four volunteer work groups—education and examination; enforcement; health and safety; and licensing—to meet before the next full board session. Staff said these groups will be board-led but staff-supported and will address tangible tasks such as merging criminal-conviction guidelines, harmonizing inspection and sanitation requirements, and drafting rule proposals and internal procedures required by the new law.

TDLR also signaled operational changes ahead: legal staff outlined the rulemaking timeline and public-comment periods; the education and examination team said the agency administers more than 75,000 exams a year and is negotiating with exam vendors; and regulatory program management staff said they will build dashboards to track enforcement trends and inspection data.

Staff committed to follow up with members who were absent and to schedule the work-group meetings; the board adjourned after the roster and next-step items were finalized. The work groups are expected to report back at the next full board meeting.