Sponsors (7)
The bill incentivizes state cosmetology/barber domestic-violence training with modest, predictable federal funding to improve victim identification and referrals, but funding is limited and time-bound and may create uneven state-by-state benefits while adding administrative burdens.
State governments and victim-service nonprofits receive modest, predictable federal funding (up to a 10% VOCA boost plus $5M/year authorized FY2027–FY2033) to support training implementation and free training delivery for cosmetologists and barbers.
Cosmetologists, barbers, and their clients—especially survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence—are more likely to be identified and referred to services because of required training for license applicants.
Victim services and training incentives may be uneven across the country because states that do not adopt the required training receive no additional VOCA boost, creating potential geographic disparities in support for survivors.
The grant boost is capped (10%) and limited in duration (payments for at most 3 years per State), and the authorized $5M/year is modest, so added funding may be insufficient or temporary to cover long-term program costs.
States and licensing authorities must administer, verify, and apply for the training-related grants, imposing administrative burdens and compliance costs on state governments and victim-service providers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a temporary incentive allowing states that require free domestic-violence training for cosmetology/barber licensure applicants to receive up to a 10% increase in certain federal victims grants; authorizes $5M/year FY2027–2033.
Introduced February 11, 2025 by Marsha Blackburn · Last progress February 11, 2025
Provides short-term federal incentive grants to states that require cosmetology or barber licensure applicants to complete free domestic-violence training. States that adopt such a licensure requirement can receive a one-year increase to certain federal victims grant awards (up to 10% of their recent average award), renewable but limited to three years per state, with $5 million authorized annually for FY2027–FY2033 to carry out the program.