03/03/2026
Protect Massage Therapy in Florida! We need your help TODAY!
In an attempt to allow unqualified persons to provide lymphatic drainage and bodywork under the term “body contouring”, Amendment 606985 was filed to HB733. This amendment exempts cosmetologists from obtaining a massage therapy license in order to provide "aesthetic body contouring services" and offers a definition of this term, currently undefined in statute.
Click here to read this amendment.
Body contouring services considered “non-invasive” can have a profound effect on a person’s health. Treatments designed to sculpt and contour the body manipulate connective tissue in order to affect lymph flow and should be administered by adequately trained health care professionals, not beauty professionals. Those seeking to profit from the health and beauty industry often do not recognize the difference between the two. An exemption allowing unqualified professionals to perform health care treatments under the guise of cosmetic purposes, not only potentially harms the public, but also opens the door for other professions to devalue the massage therapy profession altogether. The goal of this amendment is to circumvent the education and licensure necessary to provide massage therapy and bodywork under current health care laws.
FSMTA's formal statement to legislators.
We are asking all Florida LMTs that you join us in demanding that this amendment be withdrawn immediately as it is scheduled to go to the House floor tomorrow!
YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
Send a message to Florida legislators demanding this amendment be withdrawn.
Representative Anne Gerwig
Senator Ileana Garcia
Representative Josie Tomkow
Senator Colleen Burton
Speaker Daniel Perez
Senator Ben Albritton
Copy and paste the following message to legislators in your email message. Remember to include your MA #.:
As a Florida Licensed Massage Therapist I am writing to urge you to support withdrawing Amendment 606985 from HB733.
No exemption should be allowed for cosmetologists to provide a medical treatment outside their scope of practice and which poses potential harm to the public.
Body contouring services considered “non-invasive” does not mean they are without risk. Treatments designed to sculpt and contour the body manipulate connective tissue in order to affect lymph flow and should be administered by adequately trained health care professionals, not beauty professionals. The very definition of “Skin care services” in the Florida Cosmetology Act, s. 477.013(13) states that such services may not involve massage therapy, as defined in s. 480.033, through manipulation of the superficial tissue.
This amendment serves to circumvent the education and licensure necessary to provide massage therapy and bodywork under current health care laws.
For an even bigger impact, call Representative Anne Gerwig and demand she withdraw Amendment 606985.
Representative Anne Gerwig - (850) 717-5093
Call other legislators to urge them that this is important and should not move forward.
Senator Ileana Garcia - (850) 487-5036
Representative Josie Tomkow - (850) 717-5051
Senator Colleen Burton - (850) 487-5012
Senator Ben Albritton - (850) 487-5027
Speaker Daniel Perez - (850) 717-5000
