Effective August 26, 2026, Ohio HB 377 revises state requirements for light-based hair removal, including delegation, supervision, training, and patient-evaluation provisions.
Ohio HB 377 Updates Light-Based Hair Removal Requirements
On August 26, 2026, Ohio House Bill 377 took effect, amending Ohio Revised Code § 4731.33 and creating § 4731.331 to revise state law governing light-based medical devices used for hair removal. The law changes who may delegate and supervise these procedures and establishes new requirements for nurses and laser hair removal professionals. For Med Spas, dermatology practices, and other aesthetic providers offering light-based hair removal, the revisions affect how qualifying personnel may perform and oversee these services.
HB 377 Revises Delegation, Supervision, and Training Requirements for Light-Based Hair Removal
HB 377, signed by Governor Mike DeWine on May 27, 2026, took effect August 26, 2026, amending Ohio Revised Code § 4731.33 and creating § 4731.331 to revise delegation and supervision of light-based medical devices for hair removal. The law separates requirements for nurses and laser hair removal professionals while adding authority for qualifying APRNs and physician assistants.
Key changes under HB 377 include:
- APRN and physician assistant authority: § 4731.331 allows APRNs and physician assistants to delegate and supervise light-based hair removal performed by nurses and laser hair removal professionals. APRN authority applies when not prohibited by the APRN’s standard care arrangement.
- Off-site nurse supervision: Section 4731.33(G) permits off-site physician supervision of an RN or LPN who completes a physician-approved 40-hour training program. Training may include didactic instruction, hands-on training, and laser hair removal procedures, with documentation of completion required.
- Higher supervision limits: HB 377 removes the prior two-delegate limit and establishes separate limits allowing a physician to supervise no more than five nurses or five laser hair removal professionals at one time.
- Patient evaluations: Section 4731.33(D) requires the delegating physician to evaluate a patient before treatment by a laser hair removal professional and again after the initial application but before treatment continues.
- Laser hair removal professional qualifications: The law defines the term to include certain former licensed cosmetic therapists and individuals who completed at least 750 hours of qualifying cosmetic therapy instruction and passed the specified certified laser hair removal professional examination.
- Device definition: Section 4731.33(A) changes the statutory definition of a light-based medical device to include wavelengths equal to or greater than 180 nanometers and less than or equal to 1,064 nanometers.
HB 377 also retains the requirement that applicable devices be specifically cleared or approved by the FDA for hair removal and requires delegates to report clinically significant side effects or treatment that does not progress as expected. The amended provision requires the supervising physician to evaluate the affected patient as soon as practicable.
Ohio Legislative Record
According to the enrolled text of Amended House Bill 377, the statutory revisions governing light-based medical devices used for hair removal are reflected in amended Ohio Revised Code § 4731.33 and newly enacted § 4731.331.
Compliance Considerations for Ohio Med Spa and Aesthetic Providers
HB 377 places light-based hair removal under separate statutory requirements based on the practitioner performing the procedure and the individual responsible for delegation and supervision. The law addresses both on-site and off-site supervision arrangements.
Key compliance provisions include:
- Delegation: Sections 4731.33 and 4731.331 identify physicians, qualifying APRNs, and physician assistants who may delegate light-based hair removal and specify the nurses and laser hair removal professionals who may receive that delegation.
- Supervision: The law establishes separate on-site and off-site supervision provisions for nurses and laser hair removal professionals, with different conditions applying to each practitioner category.
- Training: Nurse eligibility for off-site supervision is tied to the new 40-hour training pathway, while laser hair removal professionals remain subject to separate education, procedure-specific training, and competency requirements.
- Device requirements: Delegated light-based medical devices must meet Ohio’s statutory definition and be specifically cleared or approved by the FDA for hair removal.
- Patient evaluations: Section 4731.33(D) details patient evaluation components before and after application, when light-based hair removal is delegated to a laser hair removal professional.
Other states regulate aesthetic services through separate profession- and procedure-specific requirements, including Texas Medical Board rules in Jenifer’s Law and Kentucky Board of Nursing guidance for cosmetic and dermatological procedures. The Ohio provisions apply specifically to light-based medical devices used for hair removal and do not establish requirements for other aesthetic procedures.
HB 377 updates Ohio’s delegation, supervision, training, and patient-evaluation requirements for light-based hair removal.
Practical Considerations for Ohio Light-Based Hair Removal Services
- Verify delegation authority for physicians, APRNs, and physician assistants.
- Confirm the correct on-site or off-site supervision arrangement for each practitioner.
- Maintain required training and competency documentation for nurses and laser hair removal professionals.
- Document completion of required training and other records required under the applicable supervision pathway.
- Ensure light-based medical devices are specifically cleared or approved by the FDA for hair removal.
- Complete required physician evaluations when treatment is delegated to a laser hair removal professional.
What to Watch Next
As of August 26, 2026, HB 377 is in effect. Future legislative amendments or other official state updates may provide additional information on the implementation of Ohio’s revised light-based hair removal requirements.
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Image Attribution: “Ohio State Office Building 01” by Ɱ, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
