North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 15 D · 11 R cosponsors

SB 537 — APRN Definitions.

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.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 26 sponsors

    2 primary, 24 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (15 D · 11 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

27 added · 28 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the updated version of Senate Bill 537, several phrases regarding the roles and responsibilities of nursing professionals have been adjusted for clarity. Specifically, the terms related to ordering, performing, supervising, and interpreting diagnostic studies were streamlined, which may help to clarify the scope of practice for nurses. These changes matter because they can enhance understanding and compliance among healthcare providers, ensuring that nursing practices align clearly with regulatory standards. By refining these definitions, the bill aims to provide better guidance for both nursing professionals and healthcare facilities in North Carolina.

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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 537 Short Title:
537 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS45266-NBf-55B Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO DEFINE THE PRACTICE OF NURSING FOR ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES:
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO DEFINE THE PRACTICE OF NURSING FOR ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES:
*DRS45266-NBf-55B* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "§ 90-171.20.
*S537-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "§ 90-171.20.
and theadministrationofnursingprograms andnursing services.
and theadministrationofnursingprograms andnursingservices.
Page 2 DRS45266-NBf-55B General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 e.
Page 2 Senate Bill 537-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 e.
Ordering,performing,supervising, andinterpretingdiagnosticstudies.
Ordering,performing,supervising,andinterpretingdiagnosticstudies.
Ordering,performing,supervising, andinterpreting diagnosticstudies.
Ordering,performing,supervising,andinterpretingdiagnosticstudies.
Ordering,performing,supervising, andinterpretingdiagnosticstudies.
Ordering,performing,supervising,andinterpretingdiagnostic studies.
DRS45266-NBf-55B Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 b.
Senate Bill 537-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 b.
Implementing the treatment and pharmaceutical regimen prescribed or ordered by any person authorized by State law to prescribe or order the regimen.
Implementingthe treatment and pharmaceutical regimen prescribed or ordered by any person authorized by State law to prescribe or order the regimen.
Participating in implementing the health care plan developed by the registered nurse and/or prescribed by any person authorized by State lawto prescribesuchaplan,byperforming tasksassignedordelegated by and performed under the supervision or under orders or directions of a registered nurse, physician licensed to practice medicine, dentist, or other person authorized by State law to provide the supervision.
Participating in implementing the health care plan developed by the registered nurse and/or prescribed by any person authorized by State lawto prescribesuchaplan,byperformingtasksassignedordelegated by and performed under the supervision or under orders or directions of a registered nurse, physician licensed to practice medicine, dentist, or other person authorized by State law to provide the supervision.
Page 4 DRS45266-NBf-55B General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 e.
Page 4 Senate Bill 537-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 e.
… (14) The practice of nursing by a an advanced practice registered nurse engaged in the practice of nursing and the performance of acts otherwise constituting medical practice by a registered nurse when performed in accordance with rules and regulations developedby ajoint subcommitteeofthe North Carolina Medical Board and the Board of Nursing and adopted by both boards.as defined in Article 9A of this Chapter.
… (14) The practice of nursing by a an advanced practice registered nurse engaged in the practice of nursing and the performance of acts otherwise constituting medical practice by a registered nurse when performed in accordance with rules and regulations developedbyajoint subcommitteeofthe North Carolina Medical Board and the Board of Nursing and adopted by both boards.as defined in Article 9A of this Chapter.
"(b) A person shall be deemed to be practicing dentistry in this State who does, undertakes or attempts to do, or claims the ability to do any one or more of the following acts or things which, for the purposes of this Article, constitute the practice of dentistry:
"(b) A person shall be deemed to be practicing dentistryin this State who does, undertakes or attempts to do, or claims the ability to do any one or more of the following acts or things which, for the purposes of this Article, constitute the practice of dentistry:
DRS45266-NBf-55B Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 … (6) Administers an anesthetic of any kind in the treatment of dental or oral diseases or physical conditions, or in preparation for or incident to any operation within the oral cavity;
Senate Bill 537-First Edition Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 … (6) Administers an anesthetic of any kind in the treatment of dental or oral diseases or physical conditions, or in preparation for or incident to any operation within the oral cavity;
The fees and rules developed by this subcommittee shall govern the performance of medical acts by registered nurses and shall become effective when they have been adopted by both Boards.Grant prescribing, ordering, dispensing, and furnishing authority to holders of the advanced practice registered nurse license pursuant to G.S.
The fees and rules developed by this subcommittee shall govern the performance of medical acts by registered nurses and shall become effective when they have been adopted by both Boards.Grant prescribing, ordering, dispensing, and furnishing authorityto holders of the advanced practice registered nurse license pursuant to G.S.
Page 6 DRS45266-NBf-55B General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "§ 90-171.36D.
Page 6 Senate Bill 537-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "§ 90-171.36D.
Any person permitted to practice nursing without a license as provided in subdivision (2) (a)(2) or (3) (a)(3) of this section shall be held to the same standard of care as any licensed nurse.
Any person permitted to practice nursing without a license as provided in subdivision (2) (a)(2) or (3) (a)(3) of this section shall be held to the same standard of care as anylicensed nurse.
(a) Before hiring an advanced practice registered nurse, a registered nurse nurse, or a licensed practical nurse in North Carolina, a health care facility shall verify that the applicant has a current, valid license to practice nursing pursuant to G.S.
(a) Before hiring an advanced practice registered nurse, a registered nurse nurse, or a licensed practical nurse in North Carolina, a health care facilityshall verify that the applicant has a current, valid license to practice nursing pursuant to G.S.
DRS45266-NBf-55B Page 7 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (2) Public health departments, physicians' offices, ambulatory care facilities, and rural health clinics." SECTION 10.
Senate Bill 537-First Edition Page 7 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (2) Public health departments, physicians' offices, ambulatory care facilities, and rural health clinics." SECTION 10.
§ 482.52(c) that allows hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, critical access hospitals, and rural hospitals in this State the maximum flexibility to Page 8 DRS45266-NBf-55B General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 obtain Medicare reimbursement for anesthesia services in a manner that best serves each facility and the patients and communities the facility serves.
§ 482.52(c) that allows hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, critical access hospitals, and rural hospitals in this State the maximum flexibility to Page 8 Senate Bill 537-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 obtain Medicare reimbursement for anesthesia services in a manner that best serves each facility and the patients and communities the facility serves.
15-190, 20-37.6(c1), 55B-14(c), 58-3-169, 58-50-30, 58-51-45, 90-1.1, 90-3, 90-21.17,90-21.81,90-171.21,90-724,108A-77.1, 115C-323, 115C-375.2A, 122C-263.1, 122C-465, 130A-115, 130A-440.1, and 131D-4.8.
15-190, 20-37.6(c1), 55B-14(c), 58-3-169, 58-50-30, 58-51-45, 90-1.1, 90-3, 90-21.17,90-21.81,90-171.21,90-724,108A-77.1,115C-323, 115C-375.2A, 122C-263.1, 122C-465, 130A-115, 130A-440.1, and 131D-4.8.
DRS45266-NBf-55B Page 9
Senate Bill 537-First Edition Page 9
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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 · 24 co-sponsors · 153 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (24)

Not signed on (153)

153 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 153 →

"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
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 537?
SB 537 is sponsored by Joyce Waddell (Democratic), Caleb Theodros (Democratic), Norman W. Sanderson (Republican), Natalie S. Murdock (Democratic), Tom McInnis (Republican), Julie Mayfield (Democratic), Paul A. Lowe, Jr. (Democratic), Lisa Grafstein (Democratic), Michael Garrett (Democratic), Amy S. Galey (Republican), Carl Ford (Republican), Warren Daniel (Republican), Sophia Chitlik (Democratic), Jim Burgin (Republican), Woodson Bradley (Democratic), Dan Blue (Democratic), Lisa S. Barnes (Republican), Val Applewhite (Democratic), Kevin Corbin (Republican), Gale Adcock (Democratic), Ralph Hise (Republican), Brent Jackson (Republican), Dana Jones (Republican), Graig Meyer (Democratic), Kandie D. Smith (Democratic), and Terence Everitt (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 537?
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 537?
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