Most salon and personal care owners don't realize that a new Indiana law reshapes how educational materials reach schools—and what that means for curriculum vendors who serve your industry.
Here's something that probably hasn't crossed your radar: Indiana just passed a law that changes how educational publishers can sell to schools. And if your salon or personal care business has ever considered developing or selling training materials, curriculum, or certification programs to educational institutions, this matters to you.
The provision is buried in HB1004, a bill focused on various education matters. But Section 37 of the bill—codified in IC 20-20.5-4, Sec. 1(e)—introduces a new requirement that will reshape the educational materials market starting in 2026.
Effective July 1, 2026, any publisher seeking state approval of curricular materials must do two things before their product can appear on Indiana's approved materials list:
First, disclose a fixed statewide price. Publishers can no longer keep pricing opaque or vary it by region or buyer. The price must be transparent and uniform across the state.
Second, sign a data-sharing agreement with the Indiana Department of Education. Publishers must agree to share data about their materials and usage with the state agency.
These aren't optional. Without both, a publisher's materials won't make the approved list. And that's the critical part: schools are directed to use the approved list when selecting materials. Being off the list effectively locks you out of the school market.
If you operate a salon or personal care business and have ever thought about creating or licensing training content—cosmetology curricula, esthetics programs, nail technician manuals, or continuing education materials—this law affects your options.
It also matters if you're evaluating whether to partner with an educational publisher to bring your expertise into schools. You'll now know that any partner seeking state approval will need to meet these transparency and data-sharing requirements. That changes the cost structure and timeline for getting materials approved.
For larger salon chains or professional associations in personal care, this could open a door: the requirement for fixed, transparent pricing and data agreements actually levels the playing field against large, established publishers who have historically used opaque pricing to their advantage.
Mark your calendar:
July 1, 2026: The law takes effect. Publishers must comply with the disclosure and data-sharing requirements to be considered for approval.
July 1, 2027: Indiana's Department of Education will release the first approved materials list under these new rules.
If you're thinking about developing or licensing educational materials for schools, you have roughly 18 months to understand how this affects your timeline and costs.
The Bottom Line
HB1004's Section 37 isn't flashy, but it's real. It standardizes how educational publishers interact with Indiana schools and removes some of the opacity that has historically favored large players. For salon and personal care business owners considering the education market, it's worth understanding before you invest in curriculum development or publishing partnerships.
Source: Indiana HB1004, Section 37, IC 20-20.5-4, Sec. 1(e), page 47.