Future of Oklahoma Cosmetology Board in jeopardy after governor’s veto

Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed legislation to extend the life of the state board of cosmetology and barbering, and now those working in the industry are concerned.

❓What happened?

Q: What is House Bill 1030, and why was it vetoed?

A: House Bill 1030 would have extended the life of the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, the agency that oversees licensing, education standards, and public safety for beauty professionals in Oklahoma.

Governor Kevin Stitt vetoed the bill, saying the board should be restructured or consolidated and that its continued existence "should not be taken for granted."

🗣️ “What does this Board really need to do, and who should be in charge of it?... Until the Board becomes more transparent, responsive, and aligned with the needs of today’s workforce, its continued existence should not be taken for granted.” – Governor Kevin Stitt

🎓 Who is affected?

Q: How are beauty students and professionals responding?

A: Many in the industry say the veto undermines the training, professionalism, and public safety they work so hard to uphold.

Storm Kock, a future professional at Paul Mitchell the School in Tulsa, says the decision is deeply discouraging.

🗣️ “Taking away what would give me credibility, after all the hard work that I've put into this, kind of hits hard,” Kock said.

Q: What kind of training do cosmetology students go through?

A: Storm is putting in 1,500 hours of hands-on education — learning everything from color theory to sanitation protocols — before she can even take the state licensing exam.

🗣️ “For them to tell me that this doesn’t matter, and that just anybody could go off the streets and do the same thing… that’s way disheartening.” – Kock said.

⚠️ Why does this matter to the public?

Q: How does this impact consumer safety?

A: Without a regulatory board, experts worry about unsafe practices in salons, especially when it comes to chemical treatments, skin care, and sanitation.

Claire Parrish, an instructor and licensed professional for 18 years, says proper oversight is critical.

🗣️ “Waxing, if done incorrectly, can cause irreparable damage to the skin. Working on the human body comes with a lot of responsibility.” – Parrish said.

💬 What’s at stake?

Q: What does this mean for the future of the industry?

A: Without state oversight, professionals fear the industry could become unregulated, undervalued, and unsafe, putting both workers and clients at risk.

🗣️ “I can hold many hats for somebody, and I know how to do it the right way because of all the schooling that I'm going through.” – Kock said.

📣 What’s next?

Q: Can the veto be overridden?

A: Yes. The legislature can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote. The legislative session ends a week from Friday.