SB 486 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Relating to WV Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists

SB 486 adds a definition for "master aesthetician" to West Virginia's licensing rules for the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. The bill amends §30-27-3 to clarify that a "master aesthetician" is a licensed professional who practices aesthetics beyond the standard "aesthetician" level (which requires 600 training hours). This definition directly affects individuals seeking advanced licensure in aesthetic services, such as skin treatments and cosmetic procedures. The change provides clarity for licensing applicants and the board without altering existing training requirements or service scope.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 19, 2026 Last action Mar 3, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version Committee Substitute · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended from an Introduced Version to a Committee Substitute version, expanding its scope from amending only one section to amending two sections and adding a new section. The changes include updating definitions to clarify training hour requirements, adding new definitions for specific hair services, and creating a new salon training program that allows unlicensed individuals to provide certain services under supervision. These changes aim to modernize the licensing framework and provide more flexibility for salon training while maintaining consumer protection.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from amending a single section (§30-27-3) to amending two sections (§30-27-3 and §30-27-8) and adding a new section (§30-27-8c) establishing a salon training program.
DEFINITION

Updated training hour requirements from 'clock hours' to 'clock-hours' for consistency across multiple definitions including aesthetician, cosmetologist, barber crossover, and cosmetology crossover.

Added new definitions for hair braiding, natural hair braiding, threading, blow-dry styling, makeup application, and salon license to clarify what services are regulated and excluded from board oversight.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new salon training program (§30-27-8c) that allows salons to employ unlicensed individuals to provide shampooing, cutting, coloring, and styling services under the general supervision of a licensed provider, subject to specific disclosure requirements and training obligations.

Updated professional license requirements in §30-27-8 to include clearer language about criminal conviction standards and expanded education options including out-of-state education and salon training programs.

ELIGIBILITY

Added hair styling as a qualifying pathway for professional licensure through completion of 1,000 clock-hours of supervised practice under the new salon training program.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions allowing the board to order immediate cessation of salon training program participation when human health is endangered, with investigation and hearing procedures for disciplinary actions.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 2, 2026

How they voted

301
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 33
Mar 2, 2026
D Democratic2
1 Yea 1 Nay
50% Nay
R Republican31
29 Yea 2
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Mar 3, 2026
Committee
To House Government Organization
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Committee
To Government Organization
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 272)
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute reported
upper
Jan 19, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
To Government Organization
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Darren Thorne
Darren Thorne
RRepublican
WV
15