Legislation part of larger House Republican ‘Regulation Rollback’ initiative to reduce burdensome rules

State Rep. Parker Fairbairn this week gathered support for his plan to reduce the number or hours of training required to obtain a barrier’s license in the state of Michigan. The proposal is part of an extensive House Republican effort to roll back burdensome and unnecessary regulations impeding growth and progress in Michigan.

“We’ve found so many rules and restrictive requirements that are hamstringing Michigan,” said Fairbairn, R-Harbor Springs. “This bill is a small part of a larger effort to reign in the excessive rules, regulations and requirements that the state places on businesses and those that would seek to enter into Michigan-based professions. In this case, Michigan requires about 300 more hours of training than most other states to become a barber – and barbers and the schools that train them have told us that it isn’t necessary.”

Currently, the state requires individuals to complete either 1,800 hours of study at a licensed barber college or serve as an apprentice for at least 1,800 hours in an apprenticeship program. However, in 2022, the Institute for Justice ranked Michigan the 6th worst state in the nation for barber licensing. The median number of required hours for training and experience to be a licensed barber in the U.S. at that time was 1,500 hours.

Fairbairn’s House Bill 4927 would lower the required number of hours to 1,500, in line with much of the rest of the nation.

The legislation is now in the House Rules Committee, awaiting further consideration.

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