North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

SB 669 — Physical Therapy Practice Act Mods.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 16% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    0 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

26 added · 27 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Senate Bill 669 introduces a few changes regarding the North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. Notably, it establishes the general framework for the Board's operations, including procedures for removing members if they are deemed unqualified. This is significant because it aims to enhance public safety by ensuring that only competent professionals are allowed to practice physical therapy, ultimately protecting patients from substandard care.

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FILED SENATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA Mar 25, 2025 S.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S 1 SENATE BILL 669 Short Title:
669 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS35244-NBf-142 Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAWS REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY.
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAWS REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY.
… (4) "Physical therapy" means the evaluation or treatment of any person by the use of physical, chemical, or other properties of heat, light, water, electricity, sound, massage, or therapeutic exercise, or other rehabilitative procedures, with or without assistive devices, for the purposes of preventing, correcting, or alleviating a physical or mental disability.
… (4) "Physical therapy" means the evaluation or treatment of anyperson bythe use of physical, chemical, or other properties of heat, light, water, electricity, sound, massage, or therapeutic exercise, or other rehabilitative procedures, with or without assistive devices, for the purposes of preventing, correcting, or alleviating a physical or mental disability.
The North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners is hereby created.
The North Carolina Board of Physical TherapyExaminers is herebycreated.
The medical doctor, physical therapists, and physical therapists assistants shall be appointed by the Governor from a list *DRS35244-NBf-142* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 compiled by the North Carolina Physical Therapy Association, Inc., American Physical Therapy Association North Carolina (APTANC), following the use of a nomination procedure made available to all physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed and residing in North Carolina.
The medical doctor, physical therapists, and physical therapists assistants shall be appointed by the Governor from a list *S669-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 compiled by the North Carolina Physical Therapy Association, Inc., American Physical Therapy Association North Carolina (APTANC), following the use of a nomination procedure made available to all physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed and residing in North Carolina.
The Board may immediately remove a member from the Board if the member is found by the remainder of the Board to have (i) ceased to meet the qualifications specified in this section, (ii) failed to attend three successive Board meetings without just cause, (iii) violated any of the provisions of this Article or rules adopted by the Board, or (iv) otherwise engaged in immoral, dishonorable, unprofessional, or unethical conduct.
The Board mayimmediately remove a member from the Board if the member is found bythe remainder of the Board to have (i) ceased to meet the qualifications specified in this section, (ii) failed to attend three successive Board meetings without just cause, (iii) violated any of the provisions of this Article or rules adopted by the Board, or (iv) otherwise engaged in immoral, dishonorable, unprofessional, or unethical conduct.
Investigation records shall not beconsidered publicrecordsunderChapter132of theGeneral Statutes.These records are privileged and are not subject to discovery, subpoena, or other Page 2 DRS35244-NBf-142 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 means of legal compulsion for release to any person other than the Board or its employees or consultants, except as provided in this section.
Investigation records shall not beconsidered publicrecordsunderChapter132of theGeneral Statutes.These records are privileged and are not subject to discovery, subpoena, or other Page 2 Senate Bill 669-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 means of legal compulsion for release to any person other than the Board or its employees or consultants, except as provided in this section.
(13) Acquire, hold, rent, encumber, alienate, and otherwise deal with real property in thesamemanneras aprivatepersonorcorporation,subject only toapproval of the Governor and the Council of State.
(13) Acquire, hold, rent, encumber, alienate, and otherwise deal with real property in thesamemanneras aprivatepersonorcorporation,subject onlyto approval of the Governor and the Council of State.
The powers and duties enumerated above are granted for the purpose of enabling the Board tosafeguardthepublichealth,safety andwelfareagainstunqualifiedorincompetentpractitioners of physical therapy, and are to be liberally construed to accomplish this objective.
The powers and duties enumerated above are granted for the purpose of enabling the Board tosafeguardthepublichealth,safetyandwelfareagainstunqualifiedorincompetentpractitioners of physical therapy, and are to be liberally construed to accomplish this objective.
In instances where the Board makes a decision to discipline physical therapists or physical therapist assistants DRS35244-NBf-142 Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 under powers set out by any of subsections subdivisions (2) through (4) and (6) of this section, it may as part of its decision charge the reasonable costs of investigation and hearing to the person disciplined." SECTION 4.
In instances where the Board makes a decision to discipline physical therapists or physical therapist assistants Senate Bill 669-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 under powers set out by any of subsections subdivisions (2) through (4) and (6) of this section, it may as part of its decision charge the reasonable costs of investigation and hearing to the person disciplined." SECTION 4.
The record shall show the name, email, last known place of business and last known place of residence, and date and number of licensure certificate as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, for every living licensee.Any interestedperson in theStateis entitled to obtain a copy of that recordon applicationto the Board andpayment of suchreasonable charge as may be fixed by it based on the costs involved." SECTION 5.
The record shall show the name, email, last known place of business and last known place of residence, and date and number of licensure certificate as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, for everylivinglicensee.Anyinterested person in theStateis entitled to obtain a copyof that recordon applicationto the Board and payment of suchreasonable charge as may be fixed by it based on the costs involved." SECTION 5.
(2) If an applicant for physical therapy therapist licensure, has been graduated from a physical therapy therapist program accredited by an agency recognized by either the U.S.
(2) If an applicant for physical therapy therapist licensure, has been graduated from a physical therapytherapist program accredited byan agencyrecognized by either the U.S.
(3) If an applicant for physical therapist assistant licensure, licensure has been graduated from a physical therapist assistant educational program accredited by an agency recognized by either the U.S.
(3) If an applicant for physical therapist assistant licensure, licensure has been graduated from a physical therapist assistant educational program accredited byan agencyrecognized byeither the U.S.
Page 4 DRS35244-NBf-142 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (4) Demonstrates satisfactory proof of proficiency in the English language;language.
Page 4 Senate Bill 669-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (4) Demonstrates satisfactory proof of proficiency in the English language;language.
At thetimeofmaking suchapplication,theapplicant shall pay to thesecretary-treasurer of the Board the fee prescribed by the Board, no portion of which shall be returned." SECTION 8.
At thetimeofmakingsuchapplication,theapplicant shall payto thesecretary-treasurer of the Board the fee prescribed by the Board, no portion of which shall be returned." SECTION 8.
(1) Each application for licensure............................................................$150.00 (1a) Continuing competence course approvals..........................................$150.00 (2) License renewal..................................................................................$120.00 (3) Transfer/verification/replace certificate...............................................$30.00 (4) Examination retake...............................................................................$60.00 DRS35244-NBf-142 Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (5) Late renewal.........................................................................................$20.00 (6) Licensure revival (in addition to renewal)...........................................$30.00 (7) Directory ..............................................................................................$10.00 (8) Licensee lists or labels ...........................................................................60.00 In all instances where the Board uses the services of a national testing service for preparation, administration, or grading of examinations, the Board may charge the applicant the actual cost of the examination services, in addition to its other fees." SECTION 11.
(1) Each application for licensure............................................................$150.00 (1a) Continuing competence course approvals..........................................$150.00 (2) License renewal..................................................................................$120.00 (3) Transfer/verification/replace certificate...............................................$30.00 (4) Examination retake...............................................................................$60.00 Senate Bill 669-First Edition Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (5) Late renewal.........................................................................................$20.00 (6) Licensure revival (in addition to renewal)...........................................$30.00 (7) Directory ..............................................................................................$10.00 (8) Licensee lists or labels ...........................................................................60.00 In all instances where the Board uses the services of a national testing service for preparation, administration, or grading of examinations, the Board may charge the applicant the actual cost of the examination services, in addition to its other fees." SECTION 11.
Page 6 DRS35244-NBf-142 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (2) Theuseofdrugsorintoxicatingliquorsto anextent which affects professional competency;competency.
Page 6 Senate Bill 669-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (2) Theuseofdrugs orintoxicatingliquorsto anextentwhich affects professional competency;competency.
(6) EngaginginanyactorpracticeviolativeofanyoftheprovisionsofthisArticle or of any of the rules and regulations adopted by the Board, or aiding, abetting or assisting any other person in the violation of the same;same.
(6) EngaginginanyactorpracticeviolativeofanyoftheprovisionsofthisArticle or of anyof the rules and regulations adopted bythe Board, or aiding, abetting or assisting any other person in the violation of the same;same.
The North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners may adopt rules to implement this act.
The North Carolina Board of Physical TherapyExaminers mayadopt rules to implement this act.
DRS35244-NBf-142 Page 7
Senate Bill 669-First Edition Page 7
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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0 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 178 not signed on

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (178)

178 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 178 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

healthcare labor
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 669?
SB 669 is sponsored by Benton G. Sawrey (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 669?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 669?
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