Senator Housley Aims to Protect Freelance Makeup and Hair Artists

Senator Karin Housley (R- St. Mary's Point) introduces legislation that would waive the need for freelance makeup and hair artists to obtain a full cosmetology salon manager license before servicing customers.

Karin Housley

Senator Karin Housley (R- St. Mary’s Point) has introduced legislation that attempts to reverse the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners new rules that require freelance artists to apply for and obtain a full cosmetology salon manager license before they serve customers at weddings, proms and other social gatherings.

A full cosmetology salon manager license requires 4,000 hours of training in addition to other coursework and can cost upwards of $20,000. “All the Board has done is push well-intentioned people out of business,” Senator Housley said in a press release

However, the board does not apply this new license requirement rule to freelancers offering hair or makeup services for fashion, film, media productions, photoshoots, TV, or the theater. “You don’t need a full license to sell makeup at a department store counter or to do hair & makeup for fashion shows or films…so why require it here?” Housley asked in a Facebook post

Several Minnesota makeup and hair artists have filed a lawsuit against the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners arguing that these new rules infringe on their “right to pursue a chosen livelihood and operate a lawful business without arbitrary and unreasonable governmental interference.”

“My bill would remove the regulatory burden and allow them to continue to provide their services in our communities – in the same safe manner they did before” Housley says. 

Her legislation, Senate File 2898, had significant bipartisan support when introduced during 2019 legislative session.

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Megan Olson

Megan Olson is a 2020 graduate of the University of Minnesota with degrees in political science and history. She works in public affairs in addition to serving on the Legislative Advisory Council for School District 196. She is also on the school board for FIT academy, a charter school in Apple Valley.