Utah considers regulations to curb illicit massage businesses
Date postedNovember 14, 2024
Utah lawmakers are considering stronger regulations to curb illicit massage businesses linked to human trafficking and prostitution. Proposed solutions include requiring business license applicants to interview with law enforcement, undergo background checks, and sign attestations against illegal activity, which could reduce straw ownership issues. Other suggestions involve creating a massage therapist registry, increasing penalties for clients, and enabling temporary shutdowns for license reviews. Officials cite Aurora, Colorado’s model, where stricter licensing and permanent closures for offending locations have helped mitigate similar issues.