2023 Highlights from the ABMP Government Relations Team
December 28, 2023
The ABMP Government Relations team had a busy year advocating for members and the massage and bodywork profession as a whole. Here are the team's legislative highlights from 2023:
- Supported the Interstate Massage Compact that was introduced in the following states: Georgia, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Washington, and Wisconsin (Nevada signed the compact bill into law)
- Championed massage licensing efforts in Minnesota (Senate File 967 and House File 973) and Kansas (Senate Bill 305)
- Defended the protection of the MBLEx as the national massage therapy licensing testing standard
- Opposed massage establishment licensure to avoid double licensing in numerous states, including New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia 
- Advocated for changes in June regarding proposed Gainful Employment rules; encouraged schools to push for change once final rules were released in October that amended the "150%" Rule, jeopardizing student access to federal aid
Topics Anticipated for 2024:
- Supporting licensure bills
- Backing massage compact bills
- Protecting entry-level examination
- Advocating for reasonable education hours
Related Content:
- Visit the ABMP Legislative Advocacy Page
- Get involved in legislative issues
- Keep up with legislative updates in your state