Monitoring the Session

SB 2167

massage businesses moving? New license first.

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Angela PaxtonRSenate 8

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the licensing and regulation of massage therapy.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Establishments and schools both need one before relocating.

The bill requires a massage establishment or massage school to get a new license before moving to a new location. It lets the state licensing commission or its executive director hold off deciding on a massage establishment or school license while the applicant, or any owner or operator, is under an emergency order, or for up to 90 days when there is reasonable cause to believe a human trafficking offense under Chapter 20A of the Penal Code is happening or likely at the site, or happened at another business the applicant runs. Massage businesses and schools face more licensing steps, and regulators get time to hold applications tied to suspected trafficking, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: BUZZER BEATER. Final vote May 30, 2025: the Senate concurred in the House amendments. 3 days before the session ended Jun 2, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2167 · 2025-03-10

SOLD BY

Sen. Angela PaxtonRSenate 8

ITEM

relating to the licensing and regulation of massage therapy.

WHAT IT DOES

Establishments and schools both need one before relocating.

The bill requires a massage establishment or massage school to get a new license before moving to a new location. It lets the state licensing commission or its executive director hold off deciding on a massage establishment or school license while the applicant, or any owner or operator, is under an emergency order, or for up to 90 days when there is reasonable cause to believe a human trafficking offense under Chapter 20A of the Penal Code is happening or likely at the site, or happened at another business the applicant runs. Massage businesses and schools face more licensing steps, and regulators get time to hold applications tied to suspected trafficking, starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 28, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Business & Commerce
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Vote taken in committee
  10. Reported favorably as substituted
  11. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  12. Committee report printed and distributed
  13. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  14. Laid before the Senate
  15. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  16. Vote recorded in Journal
  17. Three day rule suspended
  18. Record vote
  19. Read 3rd time
  20. Passed
  21. Record vote
  22. Reported engrossed
  23. Received from the Senate
  24. Read first time
  25. Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures
  26. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  27. Considered in public hearing
  28. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  29. Left pending in committee
  30. Considered in formal meeting
  31. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  32. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  33. Committee report distributed
  34. Committee report sent to Calendars
  35. Considered in Calendars
  36. Placed on General State Calendar
  37. Read 2nd time
  38. Passed to 3rd reading
  39. Read 3rd time
  40. Amended 1-Thompson
  41. Record vote RV#3667
  42. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  43. Passed as amended
  44. Record vote RV#3668
  45. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  46. Rules suspended
  47. Additional sponsor(s) authorized
  48. House passage as amended reported
  49. House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
  50. Read
  51. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
  52. Record vote
  53. Reported enrolled
  54. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
  55. Signed in the Senate
  56. Signed in the House
  57. Sent to the Governor
  58. Signed by the Governor
  59. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 138 yea · 1 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 27, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 24, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Angela Paxton

Donors

James Stanton$47,500Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$40KGary Blake$30,000

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

James Stanton$47,500.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$40,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$40,000.00

Cash
$40,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$40,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Jun 30, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100982305, 101012314.

Gary Blake$30,000.00
Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$40,000.00

Cash
$40,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$40,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Jun 30, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100982305, 101012314.

Votes6

Senate May 30, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Paxton moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 2167. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 27, 2025

Yea
138
Nay
1
Present, not voting
3
Absent
5
Excused
3
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 3668

SB 2167, as amended, was passed by (Record 3668): 138 Yeas, 1 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 138 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 3 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 27, 2025

Yea
139
Nay
0
Present, not voting
4
Absent
4
Excused
3
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 3667

Amendment No. 1 was adopted by (Record 3667): 139 Yeas, 0 Nays, 4 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 139 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 4 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Final passage

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSSB 2167 (Paxton) Relating to the licensing and regulation of massage therapy. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSSB 2167 (Paxton) Relating to the licensing and regulation of massage therapy. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Passage to engrossment

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

CSSB 2167 (Paxton) Relating to the licensing and regulation of massage therapy. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses6
For
4
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • City of Houston1 registration
  • El Paso County1 registration
  • Not On Our Watch1 registration
  • Texas Association Against Sexual Assault1 registration

On

  • TDLR1 registration
  • Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation1 registration
Sources

6 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 28, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 10, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Benjamin BumgarnerRHouse 63 Senfronia ThompsonDHouse 141

House committee · Licensing & Administrative Procedures · Committee vote 12 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

MASSAGE THERAPY & MASSAGE THERAPISTS

LICENSING & REGULATION, TEXAS COMMISSION OF

Text

The text as introduced · 402 words

By: Paxton
S.B. No. 2167

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the licensing and regulation of massage therapy.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 455.206, Occupations Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 455.206. NEW LICENSE REQUIRED FOR [ ESTABLISHMENT ]

CHANGE OF LOCATION OF ESTABLISHMENT OR SCHOOL [ PROHIBITED ]. A

massage establishment or massage school may not change the location

of the establishment or school without obtaining a new massage

establishment or massage school license under this chapter , as

appropriate .

SECTION 2. Section 455.251, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to read as follows:

(d) If the applicant for a massage establishment or school

license under this chapter is subject to an emergency order under

Section 51.3511 for a ground described by Section 455.252, the

commission or executive director may delay the determination to

approve or refuse the issuance of the license for the period during

which the emergency order is in effect. For purposes of this

subsection, if the applicant is an entity, the applicant is

considered to be subject to the emergency order if any owner or

operator of the entity is subject to the emergency order.

(e) The commission or executive director may delay the

determination to approve or refuse the issuance of a massage

establishment or massage school license for a period of up to 90

days after the date on which the application for the license is

submitted if the commission or executive director has reasonable

cause to believe an offense under Chapter 20A, Penal Code:

(1) is being or is likely to be committed at the

location for which the license is sought; or

(2) was committed at a massage establishment or

massage school owned or operated by the applicant or, if the

applicant is an entity, operated by any owner or operator of the

applicant.

(f) For purposes of Subsection (e), the date that an

application is submitted is the date on which a complete

application is received by the department, including any additional

requested materials.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall

adopt rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this

Act to Chapter 455, Occupations Code.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.