Legislative Overview - Massachusetts
History of attempts to pass professional licensure bills in MA
2016 Senate Bill S.2461, An Act to Strengthen the Anti-Human Trafficking Law
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.
2023 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
As House Bill No. H.282 and Senate Bill No. S.191 READ Full Bill
We need your help!
An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies has been refiled in the House and Senate.
The bill is identical to the previous S.221 and H.350, line by line and word for word which was stopped because of your opposition and outcry.
We need to stop this bill again!!!
An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies S.191 & H.282 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
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.