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 introduces a biennial renewal process for licenses, including a grace period for late renewals, and outlines procedures for the suspension or revocation of licenses based on complaints or violations. Additionally, it expands definitions within the Act, introduces terms like "home-based establishment," and clarifies the board's responsibilities, including conducting inspections and establishing continuing education requirements for license renewal.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new criminal penalties for individuals who operate a massage therapy establishment without a license or who misrepresent themselves as licensed massage therapists. These offenses are classified as misdemeanors, and individuals failing to comply with the Act will face similar penalties. The amendments include new legal language specifying these offenses while deleting redundant language from current law. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025, with the overall aim of enhancing enforcement of licensing requirements to ensure public safety and compliance within the massage therapy profession.

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