Jody Amer, director of professional licensing for the Cosmetology Commission, told the Senate Appropriations Committee that Senate Bill 27 would raise statutory maximums for cosmetology licensing and related fees so the commission can replace an old database, add online features and sustain operations without relying on the general fund. Amer said operating costs and the commission’s licensee base have grown since the last authorization in 2018.

Amer said the commission plans modest increases: raising an initial licensing cap from $100 to $125 (with an anticipated fee near $120), exam retake fees from $60 to $90 and operator renewal fees from $25 to $45. She said the bill raises caps — not immediate charges — and the board would use the administrative‑rule process to set exact fees. Committee members asked how a proposed merger with barbers would affect fees; Amer said the impact was uncertain and the commission was monitoring related legislation.

The committee approved a due‑pass motion for SB27; the roll call recorded six ayes and three nays.