A 7171 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Removes references to the terms "masseur" and "masseuse"

This bill removes the gendered terms "masseur" and "masseuse" from New York's education law governing massage therapy licensing. It updates specific sections (7802, 7804, and 7806) to replace those terms with the gender-neutral "massage therapist" in all references to practice, titles, and licensing requirements. The change affects how the profession is formally described in state law but does not alter licensing standards, exam requirements, or practice rules. The bill is purely procedural, modernizing terminology without creating new obligations or changing existing regulations.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 21, 2025 Last action Jan 29, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

A7171 → A7171A · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amends the Education Law to clarify that advertisements for massage services must explicitly state that the provider is a licensed massage therapist. It removes the previous blanket ban on using the terms 'masseur' or 'masseuse' in ads, replacing it with a specific prohibition against using those terms (along with others) unless the service is performed by a licensed professional. This change aims to prevent unlicensed individuals from misleading the public by using professional titles in their advertising.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifts from a general prohibition on using specific job titles in advertisements to a targeted restriction that only applies when those titles are used to advertise services without a valid license.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced a broad ban on using the terms 'masseur' and 'masseuse' in advertisements with a specific rule prohibiting their use unless the services are performed by a licensed or authorized person.

Added a list of specific terms (including 'bodywork therapy' and 'LMT') that cannot be used in advertisements for massage services unless the provider holds a current license.

DEFINITION

Updated the statutory text to remove the old requirement that applicants must fulfill requirements to qualify as a 'masseur or masseuse,' aligning the language with the modern title 'massage therapist' while retaining the old terms in brackets for reference.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 7171A

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO HIGHER EDUCATION

lower

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors