MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Assembly has passed a bipartisan bill that would allow people to braid hair without a barber or cosmetology license. The bill’s main sponsors, Rep. Sheila Stubbs and Sen. LaTonya Johnson, contend that hair-braiding is a natural and ancient craft and de-regulating it will allow more female entrepreneurs to practice braiding, creating jobs for people of color. They also argue that many cosmetology schools don’t teach natural braiding and braiding isn’t a threat to public safety since it doesn’t use heat or chemicals. Both Stubbs and Johnson are Black. The Assembly approved the bill 88-5 during a floor session Wednesday afternoon. It goes next to the state Senate.
