02/04/2026
📢Alabama Politics📢
Groundbreaking Bill Puts Massage Therapy Regulations Under the Department of Health; Further Consolidation Bill Filed...
A groundbreaking bill recently passed in the Alabama Senate is set to revolutionize the regulation of massage therapy, placing it under the jurisdiction of the Alabama Department of Public Health. This legislation marks a significant milestone in a three-year journey to address the controversies surrounding the Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board, which will now become an advisory council. The bill's unanimous approval in the Senate and its referral to a House committee signal a promising shift towards greater transparency and accountability. Sen. Chris Elliott's visionary leadership has also led to the filing of Senate Bill 227, aimed at establishing the Office of Occupational and Professional Licensing within the Alabama Department of Workforce. This move is expected to streamline administrative duties and provide a more efficient framework for occupational licensure boards. The legislation has been met with enthusiasm from professionals like Kristie Williams, a massage therapist from Arley, Alabama, who has been a driving force behind the push for reform.
Kristie Johnson Williams said, “Moving from a board to an advisory council under the Department of Public Health is the turning point we’ve needed,” Williams told Alabama Daily News. “This transition finally provides the administrative stability and transparency I’ve been fighting for. Most importantly, it gives us the investigative teeth and state resources necessary to actually convict illicit actors without my licensing fees paying for it.”
Prior to the 2024 legislation that restructured the former massage therapy board, a 2023 audit conducted by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts identified 13 operational concerns. Among those findings were reports that the executive director, a private contractor who has overseen numerous boards, received monthly payments in advance of services, that open meeting requirements were not consistently followed, that there was a delay in notifying the Secretary of State after a board resignation, and that a license was issued to an applicant who had not fully met the qualifications.
The audit also noted that the board continued collecting certain fees from licensees despite a law earlier that year prohibiting those charges. In separate 2024 reporting, it was further alleged that billing practices involving multiple boards overlapped across several years.
While these findings highlighted areas in need of improvement, they also created an opportunity for meaningful reform, stronger oversight, and renewed public trust. Ongoing legislative efforts — including proposals to place the Alabama Sickle Cell Oversight and Regulatory Commission under the Alabama Department of Public Health — reflect a broader commitment to accountability, transparency, and better governance for the people of Alabama.
Moments like these can serve as turning points. With responsible leadership and clear standards, challenges can become catalysts for progress, ensuring that public institutions operate with integrity and in the best interest of the communities they serve.
