AMTA Takes Local Action in Oregon: Gresham Ordinance Halted

AMTA is taking action at the local level—we’re wherever massage therapists need us!

Recently, we learned that the city of Gresham, Oregon was in the process of drafting and enacting a new massage therapy ordinance (Council Bill No. 04-25). This proposed ordinance aimed to “regulate the operation of massage businesses in order to address human trafficking and prostitution.”

AMTA raised concerns that the ordinance went beyond the scope of a standard business license and would be difficult to enforce under existing municipal code enforcement practices.

Additionally, the massage therapy profession was not consulted during the drafting of this ordinance. Further, the City Council was unaware of the passage of Oregon House Bill 3819, which grants the State Regulatory Board the authority to impose civil penalties and disciplinary actions on massage facilities that employ or contract unlicensed individuals.

In response, AMTA submitted written comments as well as our "Must Haves/Must Not Have" guidance document for local massage therapy ordinances.

Thanks to the grassroots advocacy of local massage therapists and the AMTA-Oregon chapter, the Gresham City Council voted during its June 17th Business Meeting to remove Council Bill 04-25 from the Consent Calendar. This decision puts the ordinance on hold and opens the door for meaningful input and collaboration from the massage therapy community.

For more information, please reach out to the AMTA Government Relations Team.