House Advances Red Tape Reduction Bills with Broad Bipartisan Support 

Article courtesy of MIRS for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter

“Red tape” was slashed on the House floor Thursday as lawmakers approved a package of four bills aimed at loosening occupational licensing and regulatory requirements. The measures passed with broad bipartisan support.  

The package included changes to occupational licensing requirements for cosmetology and barbering, eased regulations for childcare centers operating in multi-occupancy buildings and restructured district court operations in Antrim County.  

House leadership streamed the bills as a part of a broader “red-tape” reduction effort, arguing that regulatory requirements can drive up costs without improving safety.  

Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland), who sponsored HB 5127 impacting childcare centers, said the House has introduced more than 50 bills this session aimed at streamlining regulations. 

“We don’t want to do bills just for the sake of doing bills. We want to do things that actually have tangible positive impacts on the lives of Michiganders,” Schuette said. “I think that this is ‘cutting the red tape.’ You can go back and check the annals of history on candidates for all different offices for the last decades, and people have talked about it. We have an opportunity to actually do some of that now. And I would say that falls under the category of a big impact.” 

The bill Schuette sponsored, he said, will help ensure greater access to and lower cost for childcare.  

Among the measures was HB 4692, sponsored by Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) which allows licensed cosmetology schools to operate secondary classroom-only facilities separate from their main campuses, provided the facilities meet inspection and licensing requirements set by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). 

The bill would permit schools that have reached capacity — particularly in urban areas — to rent nearby space for classroom instruction, such as theory coursework, sanitation and chemistry training, without offering cosmetology services to the public at those locations. 

Under current law, schools seeking to expand must establish an entirely new licensed facility, a requirement supporters say can be cost-prohibitive. 

“What’s happening is that a lot of these schools, especially in the cities, they’re not able to expand or build out,” Rigas said. “They’re kind of locked in with their building.” 

Rigas said the legislation is intended to give schools flexibility to grow without requiring multi-million-dollar construction projects, noting that secondary facilities would function as overflow classroom space rather than client-facing salons. 

Rigas, who has worked in the cosmetology industry for 25 years, said the bill reflects broader efforts to make cosmetology education more affordable and accessible while maintaining existing inspection and licensing requirements. 

“To be able to be in the House and advocate for the industry has been very satisfying,” she said, adding that the changes are aimed at helping students complete their training and enter the workforce. 

Rep. Phil Skaggs (D-Grand Rapids) was the only lawmaker to vote against the bill, citing concerns about whether LARA has sufficient funding to properly inspect additional facilities.  

“I just want to keep the public safe,” Skaggs said, noting that regulatory agencies’ ability to conduct inspections can be limited by funding constraints.  

He also questioned whether the day’s agenda addressed issues facing Michigan residents.  

“This is a time when Michiganders are interested in lowering healthcare costs, making sure they have jobs and our economy is grounded,” he said, adding that many of the bills debated Thursday did not impact those concerns.  

Other bills approved included HB 4911, authorizing mobile barbershops, and HB 5207 modifying licensing requirements for barber and cosmetology instructors. 

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