Illinois is on the verge of letting state regulators yank massage therapists' licenses the moment certain sex crime convictions hit the books, with a new measure now sitting on Gov. JB Pritzker's desk.
The bill targets convictions that include prostitution, rape, sexual misconduct, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, battery of a patient and crimes that require sex offender registration. If Pritzker signs it, those offenses would be an automatic and permanent bar to working as a licensed massage therapist in the state.
According to the bill text on the Illinois General Assembly site, House Bill 5387 is part of an annual "various licenses" package from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). It amends the Massage Therapy Practice Act so that IDFPR must revoke, without a hearing, any license issued under the Act once a qualifying sexual offense conviction is on record.
State Rep. Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa), a co-sponsor who pushed the change after seeing local reporting, said the goal is to cut out long delays. "It will be an automatic revocation of their license. There would not be any more postponing, waiting around for an independent investigation," he told CBS Chicago. Weber said the move is meant to address cases where therapists with sex crime convictions stayed licensed for months while the administrative wheels slowly turned.
How the change came about
The push followed media investigations and lawsuits that spotlighted gaps in how criminal convictions were communicated to regulators and how quickly licenses were disciplined.
One widely watched case involved Christine Schirtzinger, who sued Massage Envy after alleging that a Geneva therapist, James "Rob" Garrett, sexually assaulted her. Garrett later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge and was required to register as a sex offender, yet remained licensed for months, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
IDFPR and industry response
IDFPR said the tightened language was crafted in coordination with the American Massage Therapy Association and called the measure "a crucial step in better ensuring the safety" of people seeking massage services, in a statement provided to CBS Chicago.
The department has also been tweaking its broader oversight rules. On its massage-therapy information page, IDFPR notes a new continuing-education requirement that adds an hour on domestic violence and sexual assault awareness, along with other administrative updates, all posted on the agency's website at the IDFPR massage page.
Legal implications
The bill's "without a hearing" language strips out the usual administrative delay by making certain convictions automatic grounds for discipline. Per the enacted bill text on the Illinois General Assembly website, once one of the listed offenses is on a therapist's record, the department would not be able to reverse the revocation through later administrative action.
Supporters say this shifts the process away from slow, case-by-case hearings and toward faster consumer protection, especially for people who are literally at their most vulnerable on a massage table.
What’s next
With both chambers finished, the bill is now enrolled and will be formally sent to Gov. Pritzker for his signature, veto or inaction. Legislative tracking shows it listed as "Enrolled" after clearing both houses on June 1.
If it becomes law, IDFPR would be empowered to pull licenses immediately after qualifying convictions, a change that victims' advocates say would finally close a dangerous lag in enforcement.
Lawmakers involved in the push acknowledge the job is not done. They point to the need for better notification systems between prosecutors and the licensing agency and stronger background checks. For now, massage therapists, clinics and clients across Illinois are watching to see how Pritzker responds, and how quickly IDFPR moves to apply the new rules if the measure gets the green light.
