SALONS Stories Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4040
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-17: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:09:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The SALONS Stories Act aims to encourage states to incorporate domestic violence prevention training into the licensing process for cosmetologists and barbers by offering increased federal grants to combat domestic violence. This legislation seeks to empower these professionals to recognize and support victims of domestic violence, potentially leading to earlier interventions.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Domestic violence prevention training: Free online or in-person education provided by nonprofit organizations focused on anti-domestic violence efforts. It covers recognizing signs of domestic violence, responding appropriately, and referring clients to victim support resources.
- Eligible state: Any state (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories) with a law requiring cosmetologist and barber license applicants to complete this training.
- Grant Increases:
- The Attorney General can boost grants under the existing STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program by up to 10% of a state's average funding from the prior three awards.
- States must apply with details about their relevant law; grants last one year, can be renewed, but are limited to a maximum of three years per state.
- Funding:
- Authorizes $5 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2032 to support these grant increases, subject to available funds.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 2007 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (codified at 34 U.S.C. § 10446) by adding a new subsection (l). It introduces a financial incentive tied to state licensing requirements, which did not previously exist in the federal grants program for domestic violence prevention. No other parts of the underlying law are altered.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Justice (via the Attorney General) will handle additional application reviews and grant distributions, potentially increasing administrative workload but with dedicated funding to offset costs.
- On Citizens: Victims of domestic violence may benefit from heightened awareness and referrals through everyday interactions with cosmetologists and barbers, who often build trust with clients. States adopting the training could see broader community-level prevention efforts.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. state licensing and grants.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States and Licensing Boards: Must enact and enforce new training requirements to qualify for extra funding.
- Cosmetologists and Barbers: Required to complete free training as part of licensure, potentially gaining skills to assist clients without added personal cost.
- Nonprofit Anti-Domestic Violence Organizations: Positioned to provide the training, expanding their role in education and outreach.
- Domestic Violence Victims and Survivors: Indirect beneficiaries through improved detection and resource connections in salon or barber settings.
- Federal Government (Department of Justice): Administers the enhanced grants, influencing how federal funds support state-level initiatives.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill leverages existing federal grant authority without mandating state action, using incentives to promote uniformity in professional training standards. It may encourage more states to pass related laws, but compliance remains voluntary.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it respects federalism by offering optional funding rather than imposing requirements on states, aligning with Congress's spending power under the Constitution.
- Political: Highlights an innovative, community-based approach to domestic violence prevention by involving non-traditional professionals, potentially fostering bipartisan support for victim services while tying federal aid to proactive state measures. The three-year cap on grants ensures temporary incentives rather than permanent entitlements.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-17: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-06-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Supporting the Abused by Learning Options to Navigate Survivor Stories Act — issued 2025-06-17 — PDF (4 pages)