The bill mandates that all massage establishments in New Hampshire must be licensed, regulated, and inspected by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). It introduces new definitions for "establishment," referring to locations offering massage services by multiple individuals, and "sole proprietor," which pertains to individual business owners without employees. The legislation prohibits operating a massage establishment without a license and requires direct supervision by a licensed professional. It also grants the OPLC rulemaking authority regarding the issuance, renewal, and inspection of licenses, as well as conditions for operation and disciplinary actions. Additionally, the bill allows existing municipal licenses to remain valid until expiration, despite changes in state law.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the advisory board structure by permitting member compensation, establishes a new investigative paralegal position within the OPLC, and outlines penalties for operating without a license. It specifies that only licensed establishments can use the term "licensed massage establishment" and prohibits local governments from enacting their own licensing ordinances. The bill includes an insertion for funding the new paralegal position through the OPLC Fund and anticipates significant fiscal impacts for salaries and benefits, while also modifying existing criminal penalties, which may affect the judicial and correctional systems. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 328-B:1, 328-B:2, 328-B:3, 328-B:4, 328-B:6, 328-B:7, 328-B:8, 328-B:10, 328-H:2, 328-H:4, 328-H:5, 328-H:10, 328-H:13
HB1469 text: 328-B:1, 328-B:2, 328-B:3, 328-B:4, 328-B:6, 328-B:7, 328-B:8, 328-B:10, 328-H:2, 328-H:4, 328-H:5, 328-H:10, 328-H:13