Victory for African-style Hair Braiders in Idaho – Institute for Justice

BOISE, Idaho Hair braiders in Idaho are now free to earn an honest living without unnecessary red tape and useless training. Under a new bill signed into law on Monday, March 28, by Gov. Brad Little, braiders are exempted from Idaho s cosmetology licensing laws. In response, the Institute for Justice (IJ) and hair braiders Tedy Okech, Charlotte Amoussou and Sonia Ekemon will work with the state to file a stipulated dismissal of their lawsuit challenging Idaho s law requiring that African-style hair braiders get a cosmetology license.

I am so excited and grateful to hear about the change Idaho is making going forward, said Tedy Okech. It s a huge weight off the shoulders of Idahoan braiders to know we can now freely expand our businesses and contribute to the economy.

Earlier this month, IJ filed a federal lawsuit challenging state requirements that forced braiders to complete 1,600 hours of training at a cosmetology school which can cost $20,000 or more and complete both a written and a practical exam to obtain a cosmetology license. These burdensome requirements prevented braiders like Tedy, Charlotte and Sonia from legally practicing their occupation and earning an honest living in the state. Immediately following IJ s lawsuit, Idaho s legislature unanimously passed HB 762 which uses language from IJ s model braiding bill to exempt braiders from cosmetology licensing requirements. The new law went into effect immediately upon being signed.

via ij.org

Idaho! In the news! For a good thing!