SALONS Stories Act

The Supporting the Abused by Learning Options to Navigate Survivor (SALONS) Stories Act aims to leverage the unique relationship between beauty professionals and their clients to combat domestic violence. The bill proposes to provide a 10% increase in federal grant funding to states that pass laws requiring individuals seeking a cosmetology or barber license to complete domestic violence prevention training. This training would be provided at no cost by nonprofit organizations and would focus on recognizing signs of abuse, responding appropriately, and referring clients to helpful resources.

If enacted, the bill would authorize $5 million in annual appropriations through fiscal year 2032 to support these increased grants. The legislation is based on the idea that salon professionals are often in a position to notice physical or emotional signs of abuse that others might miss. By incentivizing states to implement these training requirements, the bill seeks to create a broader community-based support network for survivors who may otherwise be isolated from help.