The Future of Oklahoma's Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
The Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering will remain open until 2026. When the state legislative session starts in February 2026, the Board could face significant changes. New information may come out in the coming months.
Read on to find out more about the bill, why it was vetoed, why the veto was overridden, and what may happen next.
Timeline of OK House Bill 1030 (2024 – 2025)
What was 2025's Oklahoma HB1030?
Oklahoma House Bill (HB) 1030 from the 2025 regular legislative session was officially titled "Sunset; State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering; extending sunset year." It aimed to extend the "sunset" of the Board from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2028.
"Sunset" refers to the "date on which an agency, law, or benefit will expire without specific legislative action." Lawmakers had extended the Board's sunset date several times already.
In 2024, Oklahoma HB2141 required the Board to update several rules. These mandated changes affected curricula, high school student expectations, instructor requirements, and more. The Board had until July 1, 2025, to make these alterations
Why was Oklahoma HB1030 vetoed?
Governor Kevin Stitt vetoed OK HB1030 because he felt the Board was not meeting expectations. He suggested that it should have already made major changes or been taken over by another department.
Pursuant to the authority vested in me by Section 11 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, I have vetoed Enrolled House Bill 1030. This bill would extend the life of the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering—a state agency that, by now, should be restructured or consolidated under a more appropriate umbrella. Before granting another sunset extension, the Legislature should take a step back and ask: 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. For these reasons, I have vetoed Enrolled House Bill 1030.
- Text from Gov. Stitt's official veto
Oklahoma's News 4 said that, as of May 20, 2025, "no agency has stepped forward" to take over the Board's duties.
Did Gov. Stitt Veto Other Bills in 2025?
HB1030 is only one of a record 68 bills vetoed by Gov. Stitt in May 2025. The bills' goals were varied. One required insurance companies to cover diagnostic mammograms. Another strengthened the state's drunk driving laws. A third mandated that more effort be made to solve missing Indigenous people cases. State legislators overrode 47 of these 68 vetoes.
Why did Oklahoma legislators override the veto of HB1030?
Lawmakers in Oklahoma overrode this veto because they believed there wasn't enough time for the Board to make changes.
Public response made a difference, too. Beauty professionals across the state worried that their licenses might become meaningless. Constituents also felt confused about why this was happening.
What was decided about HB1030 in May 2025?
The governor and legislators decided to allow the Board to continue operating until next year. This choice required a compromise. In February 2026, the next legislative session will aim to overhaul the Oklahoma Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Changes could be significant, possibly including dissolving the board and moving its duties to another department, such as the Department of Health.