Roste says PBA“ fully anticipates” that milestone being reached during the 2027 legislative session. Target states for next session include Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio and Tennessee. stalled. In reality, many legislative discussions shifted from evaluating the benefits of interstate mobility to understanding the implications of differing statutory approaches.
MASSAGE COMPACT: Progress and complexity The Interstate Massage Compact( IMpact) has been enacted in five states, bringing the profession within two additional enactments of forming the Interstate Massage Compact Commission, according to Patty Glenn, director of education and professional mobility for the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. Once established, the commission will develop the rules, procedures, technology systems and application process needed before multistate licenses can be issued.
Glenn says the 2026 legislative session showed continued momentum, even though no additional states completed enactment. Several states advanced discussions, committee meetings, stakeholder conversations and educational efforts.
“ Workforce mobility remains one of the most important long-term solutions to addressing massage therapist shortages across the spa and hospitality industry.”
— PATTY GLENN, FSMTB
At the same time, Glenn says the session highlighted an important lesson: Consistency matters.
Unlike traditional legislation, interstate compacts depend upon participating states adopting substantially the same statutory language. During the 2026 session, legislators in several states were presented with two different versions of compact language, creating confusion for legislators, regulators, employers and massage professionals seeking to understand which version represented the existing Interstate Massage Compact.
The result, Glenn says, was understandable confusion for legislators, regulators, employers and massage professionals seeking to understand which version represented the existing Interstate Massage Compact.
For employers and practitioners following from the outside, the added time spent educating and clarifying may have created the perception that progress had
WHY CONSISTENCY MATTERS Interstate compacts derive their strength from consistency. When multiple states adopt substantially identical legislation, they become members of the same interstate agreement, allowing a commission to administer the compact, adopt rules, coordinate licensure and facilitate information sharing.
For spa employers, the underlying need has not changed. The industry needs qualified professionals who can move where demand exists, while states continue to protect the public and regulate the professions.
WHAT SPA LEADERS CAN DO NOW l
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Share a real-world story. Employers with examples of how a multistate license would have helped their business or an individual licensee may share those stories with the PBA at leslieroste @ probeauty. org. Contact state lawmakers. Spa leaders willing to reach out to a state senator or representative can ask for help identifying the right contact and preparing information to submit. Educate teams and peers. If contacting a legislator feels uncomfortable, Roste suggests spreading the word that these licenses are becoming available and explaining what they are. Invite a presentation. Industry meetings, conferences and employer gatherings can be opportunities to present information about professional mobility and compact progress.
As Roste puts it, legislators listen more closely to people in their districts. These types of advocacy can take only minutes, but they may help change mobility for licensees who want to work in your state. n
“ Legislators listen more closely to the people in their districts and once the ball gets rolling, we can take it from there.”
— LESLIE ROSTE, PBA
PULSE n AUGUST 2026 13