Hello from the desk of your friendly GR Chair, Nikki Arel.

While session has only just started up, I have been busy at work with our Lobbyist, Paula, over the winter.  We have been meeting with various parties about the ‘Estheticians’ Bill’ that was passed last year and affects some of our members who own businesses that employ estheticians.  At this time, our efforts seem to have been rewarded and the law will be amended to include LMTs as being able to manage these businesses. If you have any questions, please reach out. Once this is passed, I shall let you know. We expect this to take place in late spring.

I am excited to announce that we have a date for the Massage Therapy Awareness Day at the Capitol! This was always called ‘Legislative Awareness Day’ but to keep in line with what the legislators call this, we are adopting the Massage Therapy title instead.  Friday, May 1 from 9 am until 4 pm we will volunteer at the Capitol to offer chair and thai massage to the legislators, staff and employees.  If you can please join us, that would be wonderful! Watch for an email with the link to sign up for shifts and please call me if you have any questions or concerns. As of this time, we do not have major concerns to discuss or issues that are before the state, but if that changes, we shall keep you informed.

Finally, as a refresher (since I have seen this online multiple times), CT is NOT charging sales tax on massage therapy services provided by a licensed massage therapist at this time.  We do not see anything (at this time) proposing this be changed in the budget adjustments for 2020.  We do not know what 2021 will bring, and as always, this *could* change, but we seem to be clear for the short session this year.

Please reach out if you have questions or need guidance in areas related to CT State regulations for massage.  And, if your town is proposing changes to massage-related laws and regulations, please feel free to engage me to help guide your local lawmakers in supporting us as health-care professionals.

See you at the meeting in April and in the Capitol on May 1st!!!!