Massage therapy is increasingly recognized as an essential part of modern healthcare, supporting non-pharmacological pain management, injury recovery, rehabilitation, and overall wellness. California has taken an important step forward by affirming through legislative intent that CAMTC-certified massage therapists are recognized as healthcare providers and that state and local regulation should reflect this professional status. This statewide direction makes it especially urgent that local regulatory frameworks are modernized now.

However, many cities within Santa Clara County, including the City of San Jose, continue to regulate massage therapy through outdated "massage establishment" permitting frameworks. This misalignment is creating immediate financial and operational barriers for ethical healthcare practitioners across our community.

For example, CAMTC-certified massage therapists may be required to pay thousands of dollars in recurring establishment permit costs, ownership/operator licensing fees, and other enforcement-based charges simply to operate ethical, healthcare-oriented small businesses. These regulatory burdens disproportionately impact ethical providers, women- and minority-owned small businesses, and community access to safe, affordable manual therapy services.

While public safety and prevention of illegal activity remain essential, CAMTC certification already establishes statewide standards for education, accountability, and professional conduct. Local regulation should clearly distinguish between certified healthcare providers and illicit operators without placing unnecessary burdens on responsible practitioners delivering evidence-informed care.

Now is the time for the City of San Jose to modernize its approach. We urge the City to streamline, modernize, and reduce massage establishment permitting requirements and fees for CAMTC-certified massage therapists, aligning local policy with California's healthcare recognition and improving access to safe, affordable care for San Jose residents.