2.14.20 – Herald Citizen – BY KATE COOK
A bill about professional licensing is causing waves all around the state.
HB1945 was introduced on Jan. 28 in both the Tennessee House of Representatives and Senate.
The bill would allow folks to “perform, without a license, work for which a license is normally required.” The customer would have to sign a waiver stating they know the person performing the service isn’t licensed and that they waive the person’s liability.
The list of professions covered is lengthy, from cosmetologists to architects, tattoo and piercing artists to funeral directors.
Cosmetologists statewide have protested on social media. A petition on Change.org has nearly 10,000 signatures.
HB1945 has been assigned to the House Business Subcommittee and the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. It hasn’t been placed on any calendars or agendas to be discussed or voted on at this time.
The list includes accountants, architects, engineers, landscape architects, and interior designers, barbers, cosmetologists, funeral directors and embalmers, contractors, home inspectors, plumbers, home improvement contractors, locksmiths, real estate brokers, land surveyors, soil scientists, auctioneers, individuals engaged in the application of pesticides, rental location agents, private investigators, polygraph examiners, individuals engaged with fire protection sprinkler systems, servicers of fire extinguishers and related equipment, alarm contractors, private protective services, geologists, tattoo artists, body piercing artist, real estate appraisers, and professional employer organizations.
See a summary of the bill at http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1945.