North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 6 D · 1 R cosponsors

SB 656 — Cosmetic Art Deregulation.

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

Advancing 42% · 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.

  • 7 sponsors

    2 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (6 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

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

29 added · 30 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Senate Bill 656, several clarifications and updates have been made regarding the licensing and practice of estheticians. Notably, the requirements for applying mascara or lipstick by estheticians have been detailed, ensuring that they can offer these services without needing additional licenses for other services. Additionally, there are clearer guidelines on the renewal process for licenses, including fees that must be paid for reinstatement. These changes aim to enhance the understanding of these regulations, making it easier for professionals in the beauty industry to comply with licensing requirements.

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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 656 Short Title:
656 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS15246-NN-54B Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO EXEMPT NATURAL HAIR CARE SERVICES, BLOW-DRY STYLING, AND MAKEUP ARTISTRY FROM LICENSING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF COSMETIC ART EXAMINERS;
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO EXEMPT NATURAL HAIR CARE SERVICES, BLOW-DRY STYLING, AND MAKEUP ARTISTRY FROM LICENSING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF COSMETIC ART EXAMINERS;
– All or any part or combination of cosmetology, esthetics, natural hair care, or manicuring, including the systematic manipulation with *DRS15246-NN-54B* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 the hands or mechanical apparatus of the scalp, face, neck, shoulders, hands, and feet.
– All or any part or combination of cosmetology, esthetics, natural hair care, or manicuring, including the systematic manipulation with *S656-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 the hands or mechanical apparatus of the scalp, face, neck, shoulders, hands, and feet.
– An individual licensed by the Board to practice only that part of cosmetic art that constitutes skin care.
– An individual licensed bythe Board to practice only that part of cosmetic art that constitutes skin care.
or cleaning or stimulating the face, neck, ears, arms, hands, bust, torso, legs, or feet of a person by means of hands, devices, apparatus, or appliances along with the use of cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, or creams.
or cleaningor stimulatingthe face, neck, ears, arms, hands, bust, torso, legs, or feet of a person by means of hands, devices, apparatus, or appliances along with the use of cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, or creams.
(14d) Makeup artistry – The application of a cosmetic to enhance the appearance of the face or skin using powder, foundation, rouge, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara,orlipstickwhenprovidingnootherservicesrequiring alicenseunder Page 2 DRS15246-NN-54B General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 this Chapter.
(14d) Makeup artistry – The application of a cosmetic to enhance the appearance of the face or skin using powder, foundation, rouge, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara,orlipstickwhenprovidingnootherservicesrequiringalicenseunder Page 2 Senate Bill 656-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 this Chapter.
(2) Submits proof of either practice as a certified natural hair care specialist in a cosmetic art shop or any Board-approved employment capacity in the cosmetic art industry for a period equivalent to one year of full-time work immediately priorto applicationorsuccessful completion ofat least 320hours of a teacher curriculum in an approved cosmetic art school.
(2) Submits proof of either practice as a certified natural hair care specialist in a cosmetic art shop or any Board-approved employment capacity in the cosmetic art industry for a period equivalent to one year of full-time work immediatelypriorto applicationorsuccessful completion ofat least 320hours of a teacher curriculum in an approved cosmetic art school.
(a) The Board shall issue a license to an applicant licensed as an apprentice, cosmetologist, esthetician, natural hair care specialist, or manicurist in another state or a DRS15246-NN-54B Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 certificate to an applicant licensed or certified as a natural hair care specialist in another state, if the applicant shows:
(a) The Board shall issue a license to an applicant licensed as an apprentice, cosmetologist, esthetician, natural hair care specialist, or manicurist in another state or a Senate Bill 656-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 certificate to an applicant licensed or certified as a natural hair care specialist in another state, if the applicant shows:
Instead of meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, any applicant who is licensed or certified as a natural hair care specialist in another state may be designated a certified natural care specialist by the Board under the same reciprocity or comity provisions that the state in which the applicant is licensed or certified grants to persons certified in this State.
Instead of meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, any applicant who is licensed or certified as a natural hair care specialist in another state may be designated a certified natural care specialist by the Board under the same reciprocityor comity provisions that the state in which the applicant is licensed or certified grants to persons certified in this State.
(c) Examinations for applicants for apprentice, cosmetologist, teacher, esthetician, natural hair care specialist, and manicurist licenses and certified natural hair care specialist Page 4 DRS15246-NN-54B General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 certificates shall be given in at least three locations in the State that are geographically scattered.
(c) Examinations for applicants for apprentice, cosmetologist, teacher, esthetician, natural hair care specialist, and manicurist licenses and certified natural hair care specialist Page 4 Senate Bill 656-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 certificates shall be given in at least three locations in the State that are geographically scattered.
A cosmetic art shop whose license has been expired for one year or less shall have the license reinstated immediately upon payment of the reinstatement fee, the late fee, and all unpaid license fees.
A cosmetic art shop whose license has been expired for one year or less shall have the license reinstated immediatelyupon payment of the reinstatement fee, the late fee, and all unpaid license fees.
DRS15246-NN-54B Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (d) Teacher licenses shall be renewed every two years on or before October 1.
Senate Bill 656-First Edition Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (d) Teacher licenses shall be renewed every two years on or before October 1.
(e) Prior to renewal of a license, license or certificate, a teacher, cosmetologist, esthetician,certifiednaturalhaircarespecialist,ormanicuristshallannually completeeighthours of Board-approved continuing education for each year of the licensing cycle.
(e) Prior to renewal of a license, license or certificate, a teacher, cosmetologist, esthetician,certifiednaturalhaircarespecialist,ormanicuristshallannuallycompleteeighthours of Board-approved continuing education for each year of the licensing cycle.
(f) If an apprentice, cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, certified natural hair care specialist, orteacher fails to renewhis orher license orcertificate, as applicable, within fiveyears following the expiration date, the licensee or certificate holder shall be required to pass an examination as prescribed by the Board before the license or certificate will be reinstated.
(f) If an apprentice, cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, certified natural hair care specialist, orteacher fails to renewhis orher license orcertificate, as applicable, within five years following the expiration date, the licensee or certificate holder shall be required to pass an examination as prescribed by the Board before the license or certificate will be reinstated.
Page 6 DRS15246-NN-54B General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (c) No Except as provided in this Chapter, no person may open or operate a cosmetic art shop in this State unless a license has been issued by the Board for that shop.
Page 6 Senate Bill 656-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (c) No Except as provided in this Chapter, no person may open or operate a cosmetic art shop in this State unless a license has been issued by the Board for that shop.
(d1) No person may teach cosmetic art in a Board-approved cosmetic art school unless the person is a teacher licensed under this Chapter.
(d1) No person mayteach cosmetic art in a Board-approved cosmetic art school unless the person is a teacher licensed under this Chapter.
DRS15246-NN-54B Page 7 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (2) Persons authorized to practice medicine or surgery under Chapter 90 of the General Statutes.
Senate Bill 656-First Edition Page 7 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (2) Persons authorized to practice medicine or surgery under Chapter 90 of the General Statutes.
(2) Commissioned medical or surgical officers of the United States Army or other components of the Armed Forces of the United States, and those working under their supervision.
(2) Commissioned medical or surgical officers of the United States Armyor other components of the Armed Forces of the United States, and those working under their supervision.
(6) Persons who are working in barbershops and are licensed or otherwise authorized(certifiedorexemptfromlicensure)bytheStateBoardofCosmetic Page 8 DRS15246-NN-54B General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 Art Examiners pursuant to Chapter 88B of the General Statutes, provided that those persons shall comply with G.S.
(6) Persons who are working in barbershops and are licensed or otherwise authorized(certifiedorexemptfromlicensure)bytheStateBoardofCosmetic Page 8 Senate Bill 656-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 Art Examiners pursuant to Chapter 88B of the General Statutes, provided that those persons shall comply with G.S.
– The North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examinersmayadopt rulestoimplementsubsection(a)ofthissection.
– The North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examinersmayadopt rulestoimplementsubsection(a)ofthissection.TheNorthCarolinaBoard ofBarberandElectrolysisExaminersmayadopt rulestoimplementsubsection(b)ofthissection.
TheNorthCarolinaBoard ofBarberandElectrolysisExaminersmayadopt rulestoimplementsubsection(b)ofthissection.
TRANSITION, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EFFECTIVE DATE SECTION 3.(a) Transitionfrom Licenses to Certificates.
TRANSITION, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EFFECTIVE DATE SECTION3.(a) Transitionfrom Licenses to Certificates.
–Thefollowing provisions shall govern the transition from natural hair care specialist licenses previously required for practice under Chapter 88B of the General Statutes to certified natural hair care specialist certificates, which are voluntary and not required for practice, under this act:
– Thefollowingprovisions shall govern the transition from natural hair care specialist licenses previously required for practice under Chapter 88B of the General Statutes to certified natural hair care specialist certificates, which are voluntary and not required for practice, under this act:
– All individuals holding valid natural hair care specialist licenses issued by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners as of the effective date of this act shall automatically be deemed to hold the equivalent certified natural hair care specialist certificates under Chapter 88B of the General Statutes, as amended by this act, without further examination, application, fees, oradditionalqualification requirements.
– All individuals holding valid natural hair care specialist licenses issued by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners as of the effective date of this act shall automatically be deemed to hold the equivalent certified natural hair care specialist certificates under Chapter 88B of the General Statutes, as amended by this act, without further examination, application,fees, oradditionalqualification requirements.
The Board shall prominently post on its publicly available website information about the exemption created by Section 1(m) of this act, the requirements for completion of the sanitation course necessary for exempt DRS15246-NN-54B Page 9 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 practitioners under G.S.
The Board shall prominently post on its publicly available website information about the exemption created by Section 1(m) of this act, the requirements for completion of the sanitation course necessary for exempt Senate Bill 656-First Edition Page 9 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 practitioners under G.S.
Page 10 DRS15246-NN-54B
Page 10 Senate Bill 656-First Edition
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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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2 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 172 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (172)

172 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 172 →

"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

civil-rights labor
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 656?
SB 656 is sponsored by Joyce Waddell (Democratic), DeAndrea Salvador (Democratic), Natalie S. Murdock (Democratic), Sophia Chitlik (Democratic), Woodson Bradley (Democratic), Lisa Grafstein (Democratic), and Timothy D. Moffitt (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 656?
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 656?
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