Committee amends H588 to clarify massage/bodywork registration and establishment fees
February 28, 2026 | Ways & Means, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont
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The Ways & Means Committee on Tuesday approved a committee amendment to H588 that reorganizes fee provisions for massage therapists, bodyworkers and related touch professions and establishes a reduced establishment fee for very small practices.
Tim Devlin, legislative counsel, told the committee the amendment moves the existing $90 registration fee into a single fees section and creates a new reduced $50 establishment fee for qualifying small establishments. "The 90-dollar fee is just being moved on statute," Devlin said, adding the change is intended as housekeeping to reduce practitioner confusion about registration versus licensure.
Jennifer Collin, director of the Office of Professional Regulation, told the committee the office supports the draft because regulating the massage/bodywork profession carries disproportionate enforcement costs and the change addresses concerns raised by small practitioners.
Under the amendment as explained, an individual practitioner who operates alone registers as a massage therapist and pays the practitioner registration fee; an establishment run by two massage therapists qualifies for a reduced $50 establishment registration fee; establishments with three or more therapists pay the regular establishment fee. Biannual renewal fees mirror the application structure (reduced-establishment renewal $75).
Representative Masland moved adoption of the committee amendment (draft 1.2); Representative Kimball seconded. The clerk called the roll and the amendment was voted favorable by the committee. The committee then voted to find H588 favorable as amended; the measure will be referred to Appropriations for further consideration.
The committee did not debate changes to the dollar amounts beyond the drafting rearrangement; sponsors described the changes as clarifying and intended to ease compliance by very small practices.
The bill was advanced by the committee and will next be scheduled with the Appropriations Committee.
Tim Devlin, legislative counsel, told the committee the amendment moves the existing $90 registration fee into a single fees section and creates a new reduced $50 establishment fee for qualifying small establishments. "The 90-dollar fee is just being moved on statute," Devlin said, adding the change is intended as housekeeping to reduce practitioner confusion about registration versus licensure.
Jennifer Collin, director of the Office of Professional Regulation, told the committee the office supports the draft because regulating the massage/bodywork profession carries disproportionate enforcement costs and the change addresses concerns raised by small practitioners.
Under the amendment as explained, an individual practitioner who operates alone registers as a massage therapist and pays the practitioner registration fee; an establishment run by two massage therapists qualifies for a reduced $50 establishment registration fee; establishments with three or more therapists pay the regular establishment fee. Biannual renewal fees mirror the application structure (reduced-establishment renewal $75).
Representative Masland moved adoption of the committee amendment (draft 1.2); Representative Kimball seconded. The clerk called the roll and the amendment was voted favorable by the committee. The committee then voted to find H588 favorable as amended; the measure will be referred to Appropriations for further consideration.
The committee did not debate changes to the dollar amounts beyond the drafting rearrangement; sponsors described the changes as clarifying and intended to ease compliance by very small practices.
The bill was advanced by the committee and will next be scheduled with the Appropriations Committee.
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