HB 1181: Sunset Barber & Cosmetologist Act - Colorado

Rerevised → Final Act · 4 edits · Jun 1, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates the sunset review dates for Colorado's barber and cosmetology regulations, extending the review from 2026 to 2033. It also modernizes legal definitions to include specific services like scalp treatments and body wraps, while clarifying that these practices are not for treating medical conditions.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of regulated services by explicitly adding scalp treatments, body wraps, and specific hair coloring/lightening methods to the definition of cosmetology, ensuring these activities remain under the current regulatory framework.

TIMELINE

Changed the sunset review date for the regulation of barbers and cosmetologists from September 1, 2026, to September 1, 2033, allowing the current regulatory structure to continue for an additional seven years.

DEFINITION

Added specific descriptions for scalp treatments (massages with oils or chemicals) and body wraps (using oils, creams, or masks) to the definition of cosmetology to ensure these services are clearly covered under the law.

Updated definitions to clarify that cosmetology includes a wide range of beauty services performed for payment or without payment for the public, rather than just for treating disease.

ADDED

Explicitly included lightening and coloring of hair in the definition of barbering practices to remove ambiguity about whether these services require a license.

Revised → Rerevised · 2 edits · Apr 22, 2026

MINOR

The bill was rerevised to include all amendments adopted by the Senate, expanding the list of Senate sponsors to include Bright, Coleman, Gonzales J., Kolker, Mullica, Snyder, and Wallace. A new header was added to indicate the bill is in its 3rd Reading Unamended status, dated April 22, 2026, for the Senate.

TIMELINE

Added a header indicating the bill is in its 3rd Reading Unamended status as of April 22, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated the list of Senate sponsors to include Bright, Coleman, Gonzales J., Kolker, Mullica, Snyder, and Wallace.

Reengrossed → Revised · 5 edits · Apr 21, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered and its title was shortened to remove the specific reference to 'Cosmetologist,' while the committee assignments were expanded to include the Business, Labor, & Technology committee. The bill's substantive text regarding the Barber and Cosmetologist Act remains unchanged, and the changes appear to be administrative updates reflecting its progression through the legislative process.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on the continuation of the Barber and Cosmetologist Act, but the title no longer explicitly mentions cosmetologists, potentially indicating a shift in emphasis or a clerical adjustment. The committee jurisdiction was expanded to include the Business, Labor, & Technology committee.

TECHNICAL

The bill title was shortened from 'Concerning the Continuation of the "Barber and Cosmetologist Act"' to 'Concerning "Barber and Cosmetologist Act"', removing the word 'the'.

The bill was reclassified from 'Reengrossed' to 'Revised', indicating a procedural update in its legislative status.

The House Committees list was updated to add 'Business, Labor, & Technology' alongside the existing 'Appropriations' committee.

A new date stamp of 'April 21, 2026' was added near the top of the bill text.

The specific reference to 'Cosmetologist' was removed from the main title line of the bill.

Engrossed → Reengrossed · 4 edits · Mar 23, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was reengrossed to include additional sponsors and updated the bill summary with a specific reading date. Substantively, the bill removed a requirement for the director to periodically review and update examinations in consultation with an advisory committee. It also modified the legal definitions of 'barbering' and 'cosmetology' to clarify that services can be performed on the upper body for cosmetic purposes and to update the list of included practices, such as scalp treatments and hair coloring.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the definition of licensed services was expanded and clarified to include a broader range of cosmetic practices on the upper body.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminated the mandate for the director to periodically review and update examinations in consultation with an advisory committee.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'barbering' to explicitly include services done on the upper part of the human body for cosmetic purposes and revised the list of specific practices to include scalp treatments and hair coloring.

Revised the definition of 'cosmetology' to clarify that it includes acts or practices not for the treatment of disease.

TECHNICAL

Added new legislative sponsors (Carter and Marshall) and updated the bill summary header to reflect the 'Reengrossed' status and a specific third reading date.

Introduced → Engrossed · 2 edits · Mar 20, 2026

MINOR

The bill was amended to change the repeal date for the regulation of barbers, hairstylists, cosmetologists, estheticians, and nail technicians from 2037 to 2033. Additionally, the specific section number and subsection identifier within the state statutes were updated to reflect this new timeline. These changes extend the duration of the regulatory review process by four years.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the sunset date for the regulation of specific professions was modified to apply until September 1, 2033, instead of September 1, 2037.

TIMELINE

The repeal date for the regulation of barbers, hairstylists, cosmetologists, estheticians, and nail technicians was changed from September 1, 2037, to September 1, 2033.

TECHNICAL

The statutory citation was updated from section 38(a)(II) to section 34(a)(XIV) to align with the new repeal date.

Sunset Barber & Cosmetologist Act

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