A bill that would lift licensing requirements to braid hair did not make it through this year’s legislative session. Bill sponsor Mike Bayham of Chalmette says he believes the bill is important to promote jobs in Louisiana, saying the braiding license is “another unnecessary license or occupational license we have in Louisiana,” and that “we have far too many of these [licenses]; they’re barriers to entry.”
Current state rules say braiders must have at least 500 hours of education, which can cost as much as $20,000. Critics of the bill say the training is essential for education and safety, and point to the fact that required hours have already been reduced from 1,500. Bayham says the hours are cost-prohibitive and unnecessary, adding that while hair braiding is a skilled profession, “you only need hands and a comb. It’s not that intensive of a job.”
Though the bill failed in the House Commerce Board, Bayham intends to bring the bill back next year, when he says the conditions are more favorable.
“There was just so much going on this session,” he explains. “It was obvious that this wasn’t the right time politically to push this [bill].”
In addition to this legislation, a separate lawsuit against the Louisiana licensing process is going through appeals.
