Bill Name: Senate Bill 378 (SB 378)

Primary Sponsor: Senator Charles Schwertner

Status: 06/02/2025  Vetoed by Governor

AmSpa’s Take: In most states, estheticians are limited to treating the skin surface and are prohibited from piercing into the living tissue. As cosmetic medical procedures have grown in popularity, licensing boards have needed to provide guidance on where the scope of practice line is. Bills like these are often meant to clearly define scopes of practice.

Analysis: Currently in Texas, as in most states, estheticians can provide a number of skin care services but are prohibited from providing treatments that qualify as the practice of medicine. When delegated and supervised by a physician, unlicensed but trained medical assistants can perform a number of cosmetic medical treatments. If passed, SB 378 would clearly prohibit estheticians from performing medical procedures or using devices on their own unless they are separately licensed or authorized to perform them.

Under SB 378 estheticians and barbers would be prohibited from:

• Making an incision into the dermis layer of skin, including for the purpose of injecting a medical device or substance; or
• Using a prescription medical device.

SB 378 would allow these license-holders to perform a prohibited treatment as part of a barbering or cosmetology service if they can show that they are licensed or are otherwise authorized by law to perform the treatment. The burden of proving they are licensed or authorized falls on the barber or esthetician. 
If you would like additional information, to read the language of this bill or to contact the sponsors or committee, you can find the information you need through this link: SB 378.