The proposed bill amends the Massage Therapy Practice Act in New Mexico to establish new licensure requirements for massage therapy establishments, effective January 1, 2026. It mandates that all such establishments must be licensed by the board, which will set health and safety standards. The bill outlines procedures for the issuance, renewal, suspension, and revocation of licenses, including a biennial expiration and a grace period for renewal. It also introduces a new definition for "home-based establishment" and clarifies what constitutes a massage therapy establishment. Additionally, the board is granted enhanced authority to conduct inspections and take disciplinary actions against licensees for various violations, including operating without a license.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new criminal penalties for individuals who violate its provisions, specifically targeting those who operate unlicensed massage therapy establishments or use misleading designations implying licensure. The bill categorizes these offenses as misdemeanors and removes previous language that allowed for certain violations to be treated differently, thereby streamlining the enforcement of the act. The effective date for these criminal provisions is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 61-12C-3, 61-12C-8, 61-12C-11, 61-12C-17, 61-12C-18, 61-12C-24, 61-12C-24.1, 61-12C-27