HB 1165 South Dakota House · 2026 Regular Session

establish basic and advanced esthetics licenses, and to revise the licensure chapter for cosmetology, nail technology, and esthetics.

HB 1165 creates two new esthetics licenses (basic and advanced) for skin care professionals in South Dakota, replacing the previous single license. It revises cosmetology and nail technology licensing rules while explicitly exempting natural hair braiders from all licensing requirements. The bill defines specific skin treatments like dermaplaning (using a blade) and microdermabrasion (mechanical exfoliation) as part of the new licensing framework. This directly affects estheticians seeking to perform these treatments, salons offering such services, and natural hair braiders who remain unlicensed under the exemption.

Bill status in committee 2 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Failed

Feb 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Last action Feb 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → House Commerce and Energy Engrossed · 4 edits · Feb 9, 2026

MODERATE

This bill introduces new license categories for esthetics professionals in South Dakota, including 'basic esthetician' and 'advanced esthetician' roles. It also adds definitions for related terms like 'apprentice,' 'apprentice salon,' 'demonstrator,' and 'dermaplaning' to clarify what services fall under cosmetology regulations. The changes aim to modernize the licensure framework and distinguish between different levels of esthetic practice.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the cosmetology chapter to include esthetics as a distinct practice area with its own licensing tiers, previously not clearly separated from cosmetology or nail technology.

DEFINITION

New definitions for 'advanced esthetician,' 'basic esthetician,' 'apprentice,' 'apprentice salon,' 'demonstrator,' 'dermaplaning,' 'electrical energy treatments,' 'microdermabrasion,' and 'natural hair braiding' were added to clarify service boundaries and licensing requirements.

The definition of 'cosmetologist' was updated to exclude esthetics practice, ensuring esthetics is treated as a separate discipline rather than a subset of cosmetology.

'Natural hair braiding' was explicitly defined and exempted from licensing requirements, clarifying that this specific hair service does not require a cosmetology or esthetics license.

REQUIREMENT

New categories for 'basic esthetician' and 'advanced esthetician' licenses establish a tiered licensing system for esthetics professionals, allowing for differentiated training and practice levels.

Floor votes · House Feb 11, 2026

How they voted

27–38

Failed · 5 other

Total votes 70

Feb 11, 2026

D Democratic5

5 Nay

100% Nay

R Republican65

27 Yea 33 Nay 5

50% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 27, NAYS 38 H.J. 298

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Introduced

House of Representatives Motion to amend , Passed, H.J. 298 Amendment 1165B

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Vote failed

House Vote: fail (27-38-5)

house

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Commerce and Energy Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 1 H.J. 16

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Introduced

Commerce and Energy Motion to amend , Passed, H.J. 15 Amendment 1165A

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

First read in House and referred to House Commerce and Energy H.J. 163

lower

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors