Oregon House endorses legislation allowing regulation, fees for tattoo conventions

[Brent Allen, Tattoo Network]

by Michelle Cole

SALEM -- There's the Oregon Ink Tattoo Expo in Eugene and Tattoo Expo in Portland. Now state lawmakers are trying to catch up with the trend. 

The Oregon House on Thursday endorsed legislation establishing fees to allow out-of-state tattoo artists to show off their skills at Oregon conventions 

House Bill 5027 establishes the state's first ever tattoo convention fee. Out-of-state tattoo artists who want to work at an Oregon venue will pay $20 to $50 for a temporary practitioner's permit. Tattoo convention organizers would pay $725 to $3,625 in state fees, depending upon the size of the event. 

"We have to make sure the people who come from out of state are qualified," said Kraig Bohot, a Health Licensing Agency spokesman. "And we also do inspections of the booths." 

The bill passed 44-15 and now heads to the Senate.