Relating to the licensing and regulation of massage therapy, the official text

S.B. No. 2167

AN ACT

relating to the licensing and regulation of massage therapy.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 455.206, Occupations Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 455.206. NEW LICENSE REQUIRED FOR [ESTABLISHMENT]

CHANGE OF LOCATION OF ESTABLISHMENT OR SCHOOL [PROHIBITED]. A

massage establishment or massage school may not change the location

of the establishment or school without obtaining a new massage

establishment or massage school license under this chapter, as

appropriate.

SECTION 2. Section 455.251, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to read as follows:

(d) If the applicant for a massage establishment or massage

school license under this chapter is subject to an emergency order

under Section 51.3511 for a ground described by Section 455.252,

the commission or executive director may delay the determination to

approve or refuse the issuance of the license for the period during

which the emergency order is in effect. For purposes of this

subsection, if the applicant is an entity, the applicant is

considered to be subject to the emergency order if any owner or

operator of the entity is subject to the emergency order.

(e) The commission or executive director may delay the

determination to approve or refuse the issuance of a massage

establishment or massage school license for a period of up to 90

days after the date on which the application for the license is

submitted if the commission or executive director has reasonable

cause to believe an offense under Chapter 20A, Penal Code:

(1) is being or is likely to be committed at the

location for which the license is sought; or

(2) was committed at a massage establishment or

massage school owned or operated by the applicant or, if the

applicant is an entity, operated by any owner or operator of the

applicant.

(f) For purposes of Subsection (e), the date that an

application is submitted is the date on which a complete

application is received by the department, including any additional

requested materials.

SECTION 3. Section 455.351, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (f-1) to read as follows:

(f-1) A civil penalty recovered in an action by a district

or county attorney under this section shall be deposited to the

credit of the general fund of the county where the court is located

and used only for purposes of combatting human trafficking. A civil

penalty recovered in an action by a municipal attorney under this

section shall be deposited to the credit of the general fund of the

municipality and used only for purposes of combatting human

trafficking.

SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall

adopt rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this

Act to Chapter 455, Occupations Code.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2167 passed the Senate on

April 24, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that

the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 30, 2025, by the

following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2167 passed the House, with

amendment, on May 27, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 138,

Nays 1, three present not voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

______________________________

Governor