New Hampshire considers regulating massage therapy businesses
New Hampshire lawmaker Charles Foote has proposed legislation that would require massage-business establishments — not just individual therapists — to obtain a state license, as a way to help combat sex trafficking. Under current law, only massage therapists themselves are licensed; the businesses where services are offered are not regulated, which can let illicit operations hide in plain view. Supporters of the bill say requiring licenses for massage parlors would give towns and law enforcement more tools to close down illicit “massage parlors” that operate as fronts for trafficking or prostitution. Advocates also argue it would help protect vulnerable workers who might be coerced into exploitative labor. The proposed licensing would allow for oversight of hygiene, safety, hours, and inspection rights — addressing gaps that have hampered efforts to monitor suspicious businesses.