Earlier this month, the Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) updated state revenue projections. While only slight adjustments were made, the broader budget picture remains tight. Lawmakers are making additional appropriations for the current FY26 budget that already relies on reserve funds, with additional pressure expected as they put the FY27 budget together due to rising costs in Medicaid and education. For the Iowa Barber and Cosmetology Schools Association, a top priority this session remains expanding access to the Iowa Vocational-Technical Tuition Grant (IVTG). Currently, barbering and cosmetology students are not able to access these funds because they attend a “for-profit” institution. IBSCA continues to advocate for fair and equal access to tuition assistance for all students, regardless of where they choose to pursue their education.

As the session enters its final stretch, budget decisions and education funding policies will be critical to determining whether this long-standing inequity is addressed. We will update this post once the budget bills are available providing a bill numbers pertaining to our tuition assistance request. We encourage you to take action to support financial aid programs for industry students.

HF 2466 (Apprenticeship and Career Training Appropriations): (Monitoring) A bill to combine ABC’s apprenticeship language with an increase in 84E funding, preapprenticeship programs, and community college training funding.

• 2026 Session: Passed the House Appropriations subcommittee. It still needs to pass the House Appropriations committee and both chambers.

SF 2205/HF 2602 (Massage Establishment Licensures): (Monitoring) The bill creates a licensure requirement for massage establishments and establishes penalties. NAHT is working in collaboration with the Iowa Massage Therapy Association in response to the challenge of shutting down illicit practices that occur in establishments disguised as legitimate massage therapy facilities.

• 2026 Session: Bill passed out of the House floor with a vote of 83-8 and the Senate Judiciary Committee but still needs to pass the Senate floor.

SF 2456 (Rounding for Cash Transactions): (Monitoring) A bill in response to the halt of minting pennies. Cash payments may now either be made at the exact amount, including pennies, or will be rounded to the nearest nickel. The same applies for change given.

• 2026 Session: Passed out of the Senate chamber and has been placed on the House calendar. It will still need to pass the House to head to the governor’s desk.

Iowa Students deserve equal access to financial aid—no matter where they go to school.

For decades barber and cosmetology students at private schools have been left out of the Iowa Vocational-Technical Tuition Grant (IVTG), while students in the same programs at community aid.

colleges can receive significantly more state funded financial

That’s not fair—and it’s time to fix it.

Here’s the issue:

• Students in the same career programs are treated differently based only on the school they attend
• Hundreds of eligible barber and cosmetology students cannot access IVTG funding
• These programs train a workforce that is in high demand across Iowa

Take Action Now

Email your State Senator and Representative and ask them to support equal access to the Iowa Vocational-Techinical Grant for barber and cosmetology students. Find Your Legislators at this link. For best accuracy, use your home address rather than zip code or city.

Your voice matters.

Help create fairness, support Iowa’s workforce, and open doors for students.

The Cosmetology Guild of Iowa, established in 2012, already had an association presence and an engaged social media platform. That visibility helped bring attention to what was happening as the law rapidly reshaped the professional landscape. During this time, we worked to understand and share information as quickly as possible, but we lacked the depth of knowledge and infrastructure needed to keep pace with how fast things were unfolding. We didn’t know where to turn and just kept on making the best of what we had to work with. 

Then, almost on cue, the universe stepped in.

We received a message, and the Guild was fortunate to be invited into an organization that already had systems, experience, and advocacy infrastructure firmly in place. Being welcomed into that space was grounding, reassuring, and genuinely inspiring. We were honored to be asked to be part of the advocacy movement.

By bringing us into the fold and openly sharing information, taking the time to educate us on the legislative process and the details surrounding HF 711, we were able to carry factual, accurate information back to Iowa’s cosmetologists and barbers. Through the Guild and our social media platforms, that information spread quickly and effectively. Transparency replaced speculation, and clarity replaced confusion.

After the law passed and the initial chaos settled, the work continued. We were asked to join the advocacy program with a focus on outreach: connecting with professionals across the state, helping interpret evolving information, and ensuring our industry had access to reliable guidance. Throughout that process, we were consistently met with patience, kindness, and a strong sense of community.

What stands out most about this partnership is its commitment to education and collaboration. There has been a sincere willingness to teach, guide, and support, not only us, but the broader industry we serve. This partnership is not about control or competition; it is about strengthening Iowa’s barbering and cosmetology community through shared knowledge and mutual respect.

Together, the Guild and the Iowa Barber and Cosmetology Schools Association are helping build a more informed, connected, and resilient industry, one better prepared to face change and advocate for its future.

Cosmetology Guild of Iowa