Illinois hair braider bill stalls
Illinois Senate Bill 2348, known as the Hair Braiding Opportunity Act, proposes eliminating licensure requirements for hair braiders by amending the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. Introduced in February 2025, the bill seeks to remove hair braiding from the list of licensed professions, reflecting a broader trend of occupational licensing reform. Proponents argue that such licensure requirements disproportionately affect minority communities and create unnecessary barriers to entry into the profession. However, the bill has faced delays. The bill needed one final vote of concurrence on proposed amendments to pass after it had unanimous support in the House and the Senate but was not brought for a final vote after meetings with members of the Illinois Association of Hair Braiders. Legislators plan to hold a town hall about the issues.