UPDATE : A human resources notice appearing in the December 2024 / January 2025 Pulse has been changed since that issue went to press . The JobWise story reported on a Department of Labor ruling that increased the salary threshold for workers to qualify as exempt ( not required to receive overtime pay ). The rule was implemented in two phases : The first phase took effect July 1 , 2024 , and the second phase was scheduled to take effect January 1 .

However , Hanna Resource Group COO Candra Bryant informed ISPA of a significant legal development :

“ On November 15 , 2024 , a Texas federal judge vacated the U . S . Department of Labor ’ s rule that had increased the Fair Labor Standards Act ’ s salary thresholds for overtime exemptions ; this stay reverts the effective minimum salary to $ 684 per week ( calculated at an annual salary level of $ 35,568 ).”

This ruling reverses the changes implemented in July 2024 and halts the planned January 2025 updates , highlighting the dynamic nature of employment regulations .

KEITH BUCKHOUT , POLICY ANALYST for the Council of State Governments , provides the following update on the 2024 year-end status of two spa industry interstate licensure compacts and outlines expected progress for 2025 :

Cosmetology Licensure Compact :

In 2024 , the Cosmetology Licensure Compact reached an important state enactment threshold when Colorado became the seventh state to join the compact on June 5 . This triggered the establishment of the compact commission , the joint governmental agency responsible for doing the work to activate and administer the compact . Ohio became the eighth state to enact the compact on July 24 ,

joining Alabama , Arizona , Colorado , Kentucky , Maryland , Tennessee and Virginia .

The Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission convened its inaugural meeting on October 8 . Each state appointed one delegate to the Commission and the eight delegates heard from The Council of State Governments and legal counsel about the structure and functions of a compact commission and outlined the work ahead to activate the compact for licensees .

In 2025 , the Cosmetology Licensure Compact will look to add member states . Bills containing the compact ’ s model legislation were filed in New Jersey , Texas and Washington , and at least 10 other states are expected to introduce enacting legislation in 2025 .

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