The Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact™) will help qualified, licensed massage therapists practice in multiple states through one multistate license, while preserving each state’s authority to regulate massage professionals and protect the public.
Five states have enacted the uniform IMpact model legislation: Nevada, Ohio, Arkansas, Virginia, and Montana. Two additional states must enact the same model language before the Compact Commission can be formed and implementation can begin.
During the 2026 legislative session, uniform IMpact model legislation was carried over or introduced in Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. No states were able to complete the process during their legislative sessions due to competing legislative priorities or state-specific political circumstances. In some states, direct intervention, the introduction of different language creating harmful conditions, and communications from the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and/or the US Department of Defense (DoD) created confusion and impeded progress on legislation to join the existing IMpact framework. However, the year brought meaningful progress, and the IMpact received strong support from stakeholders and policymakers and built momentum for continued legislative efforts.
For interstate compacts, uniformity matters. States must enact the same model legislation to join the same compact, form one Commission, and create a functioning multistate license. Different statutory versions do not move the existing IMpact closer to activation.
The FSMTB remains committed to the uniform IMpact model already enacted by five states and to providing clear information for regulators, educators, massage therapists, employers, and policymakers. The progress and support demonstrated during the 2026 session provides a strong foundation for the work ahead.
