Idaho lawmakers are considering HB 547 (formerly HB 513), a bill that would cut required cosmetology training hours in our state. This puts public safety at risk and devalues the license thousands of Idaho professionals have worked hard to earn.

I am a licensed cosmetology professional in Idaho, and I have been doing hair since 2010. I am asking Idaho lawmakers to vote NO on HB 547. Cosmetology is not just “hair.” It includes chemical services, sanitation and disinfection standards, infection control, skin and scalp conditions, and safe tool handling. Training hours exist because mistakes in this industry can cause real harm, including chemical burns, allergic reactions, scalp injuries, infections, and improper disinfection that puts both clients and professionals at risk.

One of the most concerning parts of this debate is how casually some lawmakers are dismissing those risks. Representative Brent Crane said: “I’m really struggling why this needs to be licensed. My 15-year-old can do this at home, she has never had a chemical burn and she changes her hair all the time. A bad haircut can be fixed in two weeks. A bad set of nails can be fixed in a month. I’m struggling with what is the necessity is of even 1,000 hours. Help me understand how the world is going to end.”

This is exactly why training standards matter. A license exists because the public is not a practice mannequin. Clients include people with allergies, medical conditions, sensitive skin, compromised immune systems, and hair histories that can react unpredictably to chemicals. “Fixing it later” is not a safety plan when the harm is a burn, a reaction, or an infection.

Cutting hundreds of hours from education means less supervised practice, less safety training, and less preparation. It also pushes the burden onto salons to “finish the training” after someone is already licensed. That is not fair to new graduates, not fair to salon owners, and not safe for the public.

We are calling on the Idaho Legislature to keep cosmetology education hours at the current requirement and reject HB 547 (formerly HB 513). Protect clients, respect the profession, and keep Idaho’s licensing standards strong.