THE TAXATION ON MASSAGE THERAPY
Updated post with new call to action posted Mon July29 found herehttps://www.amtane.org/post/2nd-call-to-action-lb1
Today, Thursday July 25, 2024, LB1 was introduced to tax massage therapy (page 62 line 23)
Massage therapy is the only healthcare profession listed in the entire bill for taxation and is miscatagorized within LB1 as a personal service. You can view the bill here https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58119
Massage therapy has been healthcare in Nebraska since the 1980s and the updated definition unanimously approved by the Nebraska Legislature in January and signed into law by Gov. Pillen on February 13, 2024. Five months later the same governor and senators have forgotten their own positions on the status of massage therapy.
We NEED you to call and email the revenue committee and your own senator reminding them we are healthcare and Nebraska doesn't tax healthcare. Below are an email and call script for you to follow. Too nervous to call and talk to a senator? No problem!! We encourage you to call after 5:00pm and leave a voice message. In fact, we would LOVE for so many people to call after hours that we fill their voicemail boxes to capacity.
Opposition to REQ 08436
Dear Sen_____
My name is ____________ and I live in (your town or legislative district) I am writing in opposition to LB1 and asking you to strike line 23 page 62 to remove taxation of massage therapy. This bill has miscategorized massage therapy as a personal service, but massage therapy is a health care profession in Nebraska since the 1980s, defined in statute, found on the state website https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Massage%20Therapy.pdf
38-1706. Massage therapy, defined. Massage therapy means a health care service involving the physical, mechanical, or electrical manipulation of soft tissue for therapeutic purposes or to enhance wellness and may include the use of oil, salt glows, heat lamps, and hydrotherapy. Massage therapy does not include diagnosis or treatment or use of procedures for which a license to practice medicine or surgery, chiropractic, or podiatry is required nor the use of microwave diathermy, shortwave diathermy, ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, electrical stimulation of over thirty-five volts, neurological hyperstimulation, or spinal and joint adjustments. Source:Laws2007,LB463,§613;Laws2024,LB78,§1.
EVERY licensed massage therapist in Nebraska is a licensed healthcare professional no matter where they provide their services. Nebraska does not tax health care per policy, and massage therapy is the only health care profession listed for taxation in this bill. This bill not only singles out a lone profession, but opens a loophole for taxing all of health care. I do not believe this is the intent of the bill, but would be the impact. Please remove the taxation of massage therapy from LB.
Your name
Your town
Your preferred contact info
Phone
Hello Sen _____
My name is ______ calling from__(your town)__ to voice my opposition to LB1 and ask you to strike line 23 page 62 to remove taxation of massage therapy. Massage Therapy in Nebraska is a healthcare profession since the 1980s, not a personal service as categorized in the bill. Nebraska statute defines massage therapy as “ a health care service involving the physical, mechanical, or electrical manipulation of soft tissue for therapeutic purposes or to enhance wellness…”
Taxing massage therapy opens a loophole in Nebraska policy of not taxing healthcare and would open the gates to taxation of all healthcare. I do not believe this is the intent of the bill, but would certainly be the impact of it.
Please strike line 23 page 62 and remove massage therapy from the bill, Nebraska does not and should not tax healthcare.
Thank you for your time
Your Name
Find your own senator here: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/senators/senator_find.php
Name/District | Address | Phone | Website | |
Sen. Lou Ann Linehan District 39 Chair | Room 1116 P.O. Box 94604 Lincoln, NE 68509 | (402) 471-2885 | ||
Sen. R. Brad von Gillern District 04 Vice Chair | Room 10th Floor P.O. Box 94604 Lincoln, NE 68509 | (402) 471-2621 | ||
Sen. Joni Albrecht District 17 | Room 1404 P.O. Box 94604 Lincoln, NE 68509 | (402) 471-2716 | ||
Sen. Eliot Bostar District 29 | Room 1012 P.O. Box 94604 Lincoln, NE 68509 | (402) 471-2734 | ||
Sen. George Dungan District 26 | Room 1016 P.O. Box 94604 Lincoln, NE 68509 | (402) 471-2610 | ||
Sen. Kathleen Kauth District 31 | Room 1522 P.O. Box 94604 Lincoln, NE 68509 | (402) 471-2327 | ||
Sen. Fred Meyer District 41 | Room 1528 P.O. Box 94604 Lincoln, NE 68509 | (402) 471-2631 | ||
Sen. Dave Murman District 38 | Room 1107 P.O. Box 94604 Lincoln, NE 68509 | (402) 471-2732 |
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