A new Texas bill could reshape the med spa industry, as Senate Bill 2696 aims to regulate the glam game.

Sponsored by Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, SB 2696 creates oversight that would regulate non-surgical cosmetic treatments in Texas. This legislation would establish a licensing framework for estheticians and other non-physician practitioners who perform procedures that involve skin penetration or the use of prescription substances.

SB 2696 would apply to anyone performing these procedures without proper physician involvement.

The bill requires medical oversight for estheticians for anything that crosses into “medical territory.” It would tighten who can legally inject, prescribe, or use tools that break the skin, potentially reducing the autonomy of nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), or solo med spa owners without doctors.

Along with regulating the performance of advanced cosmetic procedures and authorizing a fee, the bill introduces a new license category for estheticians and similar professionals, permitting them to perform certain advanced cosmetic procedures.

The American Med Spa Association already recommends that “applicants must complete an approved training program and pass a competency examination to obtain the license.”

Any procedure that goes “beneath the skin” or uses prescription-grade substances possibly faces stricter supervision. These include: Botox, dermal fillers (e.g., Juvederm, Restylane), lip enhancements, weight loss injections (Ozempic, Wegovy, Lipo-B, or B12 shots), microneedling, and chemical peels.

As of now, SB 2696 is awaiting further consideration in the legislative process.