Legislative Overview - Massachusetts

URGENT - Immediate Action Needed- Massachusetts Needs our Help!

The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure is about to vote on S261 An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies. If we do not take action there is a REAL posibilty Reiki will be regulated. This is serious and we must take action.

CALL TO ACTION

If letters in opposition or calls in opposition to S261 to the  Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure members are not received, this bill will be voted favorably out of the Committee and sent to the Senate for a vote.  The Senate will without a doubt pass this bill, and the Governor, Maura Healy, who had filed a previous version of the licensure bill will sign it into law.  If this bill is passed in MA, it will be duplicated in other states.

We must keep Reiki free.

1.  SIGN Petition – CLICK HERE.  Protect the Right to Practice, Teach and Access Alternative Healing Therapies in MA

2.  Email letters of opposition to the Committee Members – CLICK HERE

3.  Call the members of the Committee to voice your opposition of S261 – TALKING POINTS- CLICK HERE


History of attempts to pass professional licensure bills in MA

2025 S261, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies
(Formerly S191 & H282)

2016 Senate Bill S.2461, An Act to Strengthen the Anti-Human Trafficking Law

2017 Senate Bill S.905, An Act to Strengthen Laws Combatting Human Trafficking and Protecting Survivors of Modern-day Slavery

2018 Senate Bill S.2621, An Act to regulate bodywork therapy

2019 Senate Bill S.168, An Act Regulating Bodyworks

2021 Senate Bill S.221 and House Bill H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies S.221 Bill H.350 Bill

2021 Update on MA Bills S.221 and H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies

On Monday, January 31, 2021 the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure in an executive session voted to send S.221 and H.350 to a further investigation and study order. A study order is typically an indication that the committee has decided to focus its efforts for the remainder of the legislative session on other matters. It is possible for the chairs to agree to take a matter out of study order, but it is very, very rare.This was the fifth attempt to regulate complementary practices in Massachusetts. Without your help, we are sure the bill would have passed.

2025 Take Action Now MA Reiki Practitioners and Clients Please Write your Legislator

Your Right to Practice and Teach Reiki is Under Threat Again in Massachusetts for the 6th Time

AN ACT REGULATING ALTERNATIVE HEALING THERAPIES REFILED AGAIN IN 2023

2025 S261, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies
(Formerly S191 & H282)


We need your help!  

 An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies has been refiled in the House and Senate. 

 We need to stop this bill again!!!

 An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies S261 again calls for licensure of more than 200 modalities, including Reiki, with the state setting standards for the practice and teaching of them. 

It is virtually impossible for the state to draft standards for the practicing and teaching of more than 1200 lineages of Reiki to honor them all.  Licensing of a teaching program will cost in excess of $7,500.  This only includes the bond and initial application fee.  It does not include the annual licensure fee.

 How to Stop this Bill from Passing

We need an army of practitioners/teachers to contact their legislator and senator to establish a relationship with them and to let them know how this proposed bill would affect their income and family. They are elected officials and they listen to their constituents.

Attached is a sample letter and talking points.  Please call your legislator after you send a letter or email to make sure they received it and to find out their position on the bill.

If you would like to volunteer to help with the opposition to this bill, have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Rita Glassman, Executive Director, MA Coalition of Holistic Practitioners

You can find your representative and senator’s contact information by Clicking Here


Sample Letter to your Legislator

Fact Sheet to Oppose S191 & H282

Sample Email to your Legislator

Sample Dialogue with Senators/Legislators

Reiki Unified thanks all our supporters for their efforts in opposing the Massachusetts legislation. Your voice was heard. Each and every one of you made a difference.