JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Rep. Elijah Haahr pre-filed legislation this week to protect yoga teacher training programs from excessive government regulation. Haahr filed HB 1681 that would exempt yoga teaching courses from regulation by the Missouri Department of Higher Education.
Haahr said the bill is necessary because the higher education department has begun regulating yoga teacher training programs under the Postsecondary School Certification Program, which is intended to provide oversight for vocational or occupational schools. Haahr said the department’s regulations are proving to be harmful and excessively burdensome for the many small business owners who are now being exposed to additional fees and requirements.
“It is clear the department should not be regulating these businesses, which are most often small businesses owned by women. The department’s decision represents a solution in search of a problem as we have seen no complaints from the public regarding yoga teacher training programs here in Missouri,” said Haahr, R-Springfield. “I am hopeful my colleagues will work with me this session to pass this clarification into law so we can protect the many small businesses that are now being unfairly subjected to overregulation.”
