It has been a busy and difficult year for the industry in the state legislative fights, with approximately 46 bills introduced in 30 different states. Early in the session, New Jersey followed its neighbor New York’s lead and passed an under-17 ban. Colorado has passed an under-15 ban and West Virginia passed an under-14 ban.
Although the governors in Oregon and Illinois have not yet signed bills passed in those states’ legislatures, in all likelihood, laws to ban tanning for those under 18 will be go into effect. However, a pleasant surprise came in April when Maine’s Governor vetoed a teen tan ban that passed both houses of the Maine Legislature.
A number of other state legislatures have adjourned without enacting similar teen restrictions – Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Washington. Still other states remain in session and the fight to stop these bills continues. At press time, state legislatures with pending legislation restricting teen access include Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.
Although the ITA is not directly involved in the state legislative battles in a strategic or tactical sense, we have been closely cooperating with the salon association in an effort to protect the business interests of the entire industry.
