BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1562
89R5477 JCG-D	By: Hernandez (Zaffirini)
	Business & Commerce
	5/16/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation requires students enrolled in massage schools to hold a permit displaying their name and the name of the school. Under current law, these permits are not required to include a photograph of the student. Concerns have been raised that without a photo on the permit, human traffickers can easily swap permits among potential victims, making enforcement and identification difficult. What's more, this creates an opportunity for traffickers to fraudulently use the same permit for multiple victims and evade detection.

H.B. 1562 would require a photo ID on massage therapy student permits. This change is a direct recommendation from law enforcement and was included in the licensing and administrative procedures committee's recommendations following the 87th legislative interim. H.B. 1562 would help combat possible human trafficking occurring at massage therapy schools.

H.B. 1562 amends current law relating to massage student permits.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 2 of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 455.161(a), Occupations Code, to require the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to require a student enrolled in a massage school in this state to hold a permit stating the student's name and the name of the school and including a photograph of the student's face.

SECTION 2. Requires the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act to Section 455.161 (Student Permit; Eligibility), Occupations Code.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.