Institute for Justice Applauds Oklahoma Governor’s Veto of Bill Extending Cosmetology Board, Urges Further Free Market Reforms

Arlington, Va.—Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed HB 1030, which would have renewed the Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, a body that kept protectionist legislation in place and created heavy regulations and licensure requirements for beauty related industries. The Institute for Justice (IJ), a national advocate for reducing red tape in beauty work such as barbering and hair braiding, applauds Gov. Stitt’s veto and urges the state to continue finding ways to reduce barriers to work.  

“This is an important step towards allowing people who want to work in the beauty and barbering industries to realize that dream,” said IJ Director of Legislation Meagan Forbes. “With the board gone, the legislature can now move even further in the right direction by reducing burdensome regulations and allowing all Oklahomans with the desire and ability to work in the beauty profession.”  

Cosmetology licenses around the nation can cost thousands of dollars and require hundreds of hours of certification to work. This can create huge barriers to entry and financial difficulties even for those who do successfully complete the program.  

In Oklahoma, it takes at least 1,500 hours of classes to get a license in cosmetology. On average, a cosmetology program in the state costs $12,459, while the average student takes out $7,617 in federal student loans. But despite such a hefty investment, many cosmetologists barely earn enough to get by: Half of cosmetologists make less than $23,430 a year.  

These numbers are part of a larger overall problem with occupational licensing. According to IJ’s report, License to Work, the average license for low- and moderate-income jobs in Oklahoma takes 405 days of education and experience.  

In his veto message Gov. Stitt echoed these concerns calling for the Board to become more “transparent, responsive, and aligned with the needs of today’s workforce.” 

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To arrange interviews on this subject, journalists may contact Phillip Suderman, IJ’s Communications Project Manager, at [email protected] or (850) 376-4110. More information on IJ’s previous work advocating for beauty licensure reform is available at: https://beautynotbarriers.com/