N.M. Stat. Ann. § 61-17A-22
The following persons are exempt from the provisions of the Barbers and Cosmetologists Act while in the discharge of their professional duties:
A. persons licensed by the law of this state to practice medicine and surgery or chiropractic;
B. commissioned medical or surgical officers of the United States army, navy, marine or air force hospital service;
C. registered nurses;
D. funeral service practitioners; and
E. persons who are employed as make-up artists or hairstylists for theatrical or cinematic productions.
History: Laws 1993, ch. 171, § 22; 2017, ch. 108, § 2; 2025, ch. 39, § 5; 2025, ch. 68, § 1.
Delayed repeals. — For delayed repeal, see 61-17A-25 NMSA 1978.
2025 Multiple Amendments. — Laws 2025, ch. 39, § 5, effective July 1, 2025, and Laws 2025, ch. 68, § 1, effective June 20, 2025, enacted different amendments to this section that can be reconciled. Pursuant to 12-1-8 NMSA 1978, Laws 2025, ch. 68, § 1 as the last act signed by the governor is set out above and incorporates both amendments. The amendments enacted by Laws 2025, ch. 39, § 5 and Laws 2025, ch. 68, § 1 are described below. To view the session laws in their entirety, see the 2025 session laws on NMOneSource.com.
The nature of the difference between the amendments is that Section 61-17A-22 NMSA 1978, as amended by Laws 2025, ch. 39, § 5, removed an exemption from the provisions of the Barbers and Cosmetologists Act for persons providing only eyebrow threading services, and Laws 2025, ch. 68, § 1, included commissioned medical or surgical officers of the air force hospital service to the list of other medical officers that are exempt from the provisions of the Barbers and Cosmetologists Act, and added persons who are employed as make-up artists or hairstylists for theatrical or cinematic productions to the list of persons exempted from the Barbers and Cosmetologists Act.
Laws 2025, ch. 68, § 1, effective June 20, 2025, included commissioned medical or surgical officers of the air force hospital service to the list of other medical officers that are exempt from the provisions of the Barbers and Cosmetologists Act, and added persons who are employed as make-up artists or hairstylists for theatrical or cinematic productions to the list of persons exempted from the Barbers and Cosmetologists Act; in Subsection B, after "marine" added "or air force"; and added Subsection F [E].
Laws 2025, ch. 39, § 5, effective July 1, 2025, removed an exemption from the provisions of the Barbers and Cosmetologists Act for persons providing only eyebrow threading services; deleted former Subsection E, which provided "persons providing only eyebrow-threading services".
The 2017 amendment, effective June 16, 2017, exempted persons who provide only eyebrow threading services from the provisions of the Barbers and Cosmetologists Act; and added Subsection E.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 11 Am. Jur. 2d Barbers and Cosmetologists § 11.