Lawmakers Consider Licensing Tattoo Artists

Connecticut lawmakers are considering a proposal that would require tattoo artists to be licensed by the state Department of Public Health.

The legislature's Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee passed the bill, 50-0 last week, and forwarded it to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

The proposal would require tattoo artists to complete training and first aid courses and to pass an examination.

License applicants would have to pay an initial $250 fee and a $200 renewal fee every two years.

As tattooing becomes more mainstream, proponents of the legislation say the public is entitled to expect that tattoo artists are licensed by the state. But tattoo artists say lawmakers are going about regulation the wrong way.

The Public Health and Judiciary committees previously approved the bill.