Committee adopts technical amendment and lays over art-therapy licensure bill

ST. PAUL — Lawmakers on Feb. 23 heard House File 2590, a bill to license art therapists in Minnesota, adopted an author A1 amendment and laid the measure over for further drafting.

Representative Matt Norris presented the amendment, which replaces proposed board appointments with a clinical art therapist advisory council and makes technical corrections requested by stakeholder groups. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Brianna Colton, a practicing art therapist, told the committee that art therapy has specialized education, supervised practice and exam requirements and that a state license would improve access, reimbursement and clarity about who is qualified to provide the therapy. “This misrepresentation can and does cause harm,” Colton said, urging the committee to move the measure forward after further work.

The committee agreed to hold HF2590 in committee to allow sponsors to refine language and complete any needed fiscal analysis.