Massage | Oregon | Licensing updates
Oregon Raises Massage Penalties and Adds a 180-Day Temporary Practice Permit
Oregon HB 3819 became operative January 1, creating a limited temporary-practice route while increasing enforcement exposure for therapists and massage…
- Do not treat the temporary permit as general Oregon portability; it is limited to the three statutory purposes and 180 days per calendar year.
- Facilities should verify every practitioner credential and have a response plan for Board notices and placards.
- Update compliance risk assessments for the $5,000-per-violation ceiling and repeat-offense criminal exposure.
- Train Oregon massage therapists on their child-abuse reporting duty and the official reporting process.
Published: 2026-09-04 · Reviewed: 2026-09-04
Official context
Oregon Laws 2025, Chapter 308 (HB 3819), was approved June 11, 2025, filed June 12, effective September 26, and became operative January 1, 2026. It authorizes a temporary practice permit for a person with valid authority from another U.S. jurisdiction or foreign country for educational or clinical presentations, disaster relief, or consultation with an Oregon licensee. The permit may be valid for no more than 180 days in a calendar year.
What this means
The same act raises the Board's maximum civil penalty from $1,000 to $5,000 for a single violation, authorizes an exterior violation placard at a facility using unlicensed practitioners, and permits an additional penalty up to $100 per day if that placard is removed. A repeat conviction for violating the massage licensing law or Board rules can be a Class C felony. The act also adds massage therapists to Oregon's statutory list of public or private officials who are mandatory reporters of child abuse.
Official sources
- https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/lawsstatutes/2025orlaw0308.pdf
- https://apps.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3819
Licensing & Industry Updates is an educational summary of official public communications. It is not legal advice, and filing decisions should be checked against the current board page or rule text.