HB1562

Regular Session

Relating to massage student permits.

ModeratePlan for compliance

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation • Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: August 15, 2025 (Operational systems must be ready to capture and print photos for the Fall cohort to ensure compliance on Day 1).
Agency Rulemaking: The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation is required to adopt rules "as soon as practicable." Expect technical specifications regarding photo quality and dimensions to be published in the *Texas Register* during Summer 2025.

Immediate Action Plan

Legal Review: Draft an addendum for current students and update new contracts to include regulatory photo consent by July 1, 2025.
Hardware Audit: Verify that your facility's printers can handle high-resolution color printing if TDLR requires schools to print the new permits.
Process Integration: Integrate a "headshot station" into your admissions workflow to capture images immediately upon enrollment.
Data Prep: Prepare to photograph your *entire* current student body in August 2025 to mitigate the risk of retroactive enforcement.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Update Student Enrollment Agreements immediately. You must add a specific clause granting the school permission to capture, store, and publicly display the student's photograph for regulatory compliance purposes. Do not rely on existing marketing media releases, as they may not cover mandatory regulatory display.

Hiring/Training

Admissions staff must be trained on new photo-capture protocols during the intake process. Administrative personnel responsible for TDLR filings must be retrained on the updated portal submission process, which will likely require digital image uploads.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Student permanent files must now include a secure digital headshot. The physical display of student permits within the school facility—mandatory under existing law—must be updated to ensure the new permits with photos are clearly visible to inspectors and the public.

Fees & Costs

There are no new state licensing fees associated with this bill. However, schools must budget for increased internal operational costs regarding color printing, ink/toner, and digital camera hardware to produce legible photo permits.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Retroactivity (The "Grandfather" Issue): The statute does not explicitly exempt students enrolled *prior* to September 1, 2025, whose permits are already active. TDLR rulemaking may require you to reissue permits with photos for your entire existing student body.

Photo Specifications: The law requires a "photograph of the student's face" but lacks technical standards. We anticipate TDLR will align this with driver’s license standards (plain background, no hats/glasses).

Issuance Mechanism: It is unclear if TDLR will mail physical photo cards or if schools will be required to print photo-embedded PDFs generated by the TDLR system.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsOccupational Regulation Occupational Regulation--other Trades & Professions Massage Therapy & Massage Therapists Licensing & Regulation, Texas Commission of Licensing & Regulation, Texas Department of Permits

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1562

By: Hernandez

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee of the potential for human trafficking at massage therapy schools. Current law governing massage therapy in Texas does not require massage student permits to contain a photograph of the student, and the bill author further informed the committee that this lack of photo identification may make it easier for human traffickers to use the same permit for multiple survivors. H.B. 1562 seeks to help combat human trafficking in the massage therapy industry by requiring a permit held by a massage school student to contain a photograph of the student's face.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1562 amends the Occupations Code to include in the required contents of a permit held by a student enrolled in a massage school in Texas a photograph of the student's face. The bill requires the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.

House Authors

Rep. Ana HernandezDemocrat · Primary Author

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDemocrat · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

H.B. No. 1562

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to massage student permits.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 455.161(a), Occupations Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a) The department shall 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. The permit must be displayed in a reasonable manner
	at the school.
	SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
	of this Act, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall
	adopt rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this
	Act to Section 455.161, Occupations Code.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 23, 2025

TO:	Honorable Dade Phelan, Chair, House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB1562 by Hernandez (Relating to massage student permits.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

It is assumed that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

452 Department of Licensing and Regulation

LBB Staff:

JMc, TUf, BFa

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB1562

What does Texas HB1562 do?

The Texas Legislature has mandated that all massage student permits issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) must now include a photograph of the student's face. This requirement strictly affects licensed massage schools, necessitating immediate updates to enrollment intake procedures and physical permit displays to avoid administrative penalties for improper documentation. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: August 15, 2025 (Operational systems must be ready to capture and print photos for the Fall cohort to ensure compliance on Day 1).

Who authored HB1562?

HB1562 was authored by Texas Representative Ana Hernandez during the Regular Session.

When was HB1562 signed into law?

HB1562 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce HB1562?

HB1562 is enforced by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation.

How urgent is compliance with HB1562?

The compliance urgency for HB1562 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of HB1562?

The cost impact of HB1562 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does HB1562 address?

HB1562 addresses topics including occupational regulation, occupational regulation--other trades & professions, massage therapy & massage therapists, licensing & regulation, texas commission of and licensing & regulation, texas department of.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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