In response to a growing number of illicit massage parlors tied to human trafficking operations, New Hampshire lawmakers are pushing for stricter regulations on massage businesses. This month, Representative Charles Foote of Derry introduced legislation that would require massage establishments to obtain state licenses — a move advocates say would enhance local enforcement and help combat sex trafficking.
Currently, New Hampshire licenses individual massage therapists through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. However, the businesses themselves are not subject to licensing or inspection, leaving a regulatory gap that, according to law enforcement officials, allows illegal operations to persist in communities across the state.
“These criminal networks operate internationally,” Foote said. “Many women come to the U.S. believing they’re getting a chance at a better life, but instead are trafficked and held in control by these businesses.”
Since November 2024, the state Department of Justice, in collaboration with federal and municipal agencies, has shut down at least 15 massage businesses in communities including Concord, Manchester, Derry, Dover, and Salem. This accounts for roughly 40 percent of known illicit parlors in the state, according to DOJ estimates. Still, officials say these victories are temporary, as new operations often open just as quickly as others are closed.
Some towns have begun addressing the issue independently. In Derry, a 2023 town ordinance requires all massage businesses to be licensed by the Derry Health Department. The regulation limits their hours of operation to between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., in line with state guidelines that identify late-night hours as a red flag. It also permits unscheduled inspections during business hours. Though administering the ordinance places a heavy burden on the town’s lone full-time health officer, Town Administrator Mike Fowler said Derry has seen positive results.
“We’ve had to take enforcement into our own hands,” Fowler said. “It’s uncomfortable to conduct stings, but we’ve learned that many of these places aren’t operating legitimately. These tools have helped us close six illicit businesses this year alone.”
Fowler voiced support for statewide legislation, noting that Derry’s success does not address the problem in surrounding towns. “We’ve made progress here,” he said. “But this issue keeps cropping up elsewhere. A consistent state policy could help other communities avoid the same challenges.”
The proposed licensing requirement would give the state and municipalities legal authority to inspect massage businesses and enforce health, safety, and operational standards. Supporters argue these inspections would help identify illegal practices and improve industry oversight.
A similar legislative effort failed in 2022, but supporters hope this year’s bill will gain traction amid growing concern over trafficking. Pamela Keilig, a public policy specialist at the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, said the lack of business-level regulation creates vulnerability.
“Traffickers target communities where oversight is weak,” Keilig said. “Licensing establishments provides a structure that protects both the professionals working in legitimate settings and those who might be coerced into illegal operations.”
Keilig added that a state-level licensing system, backed by enforcement, could help dismantle persistent trafficking networks and reduce what she described as a “Whack-a-Mole” cycle — where illegal parlors close in one town only to reappear in another.
If passed, the proposed legislation would mark a significant shift in how New Hampshire regulates massage businesses and aims to give communities stronger tools to address illegal activity. For towns like Derry, it could also mean fewer local resources spent on fighting a problem that crosses municipal borders.
As lawmakers prepare for the next legislative session, advocates and officials alike say the issue reflects a broader need for coordinated efforts to prevent trafficking, protect vulnerable individuals, and strengthen public safety across the state.
