North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee 2 R cosponsors

SB 654 — End Dual Licensure for Audiologists.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

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  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 18% · 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.

  • 2 sponsors

    0 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 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

15 added · 16 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent updates to Senate Bill 654 include changes to the requirements for audiologists when completing sales with patients. An important addition specifies that a notice must be signed by the patient before finalizing the purchase. This change aims to ensure that patients are fully aware of the terms of the transaction, enhancing transparency and protecting consumer rights in the audiology field.

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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 654 Short Title:
654 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS15293-NN-50A Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO MODERNIZE AUDIOLOGY LICENSURE STATUTES BY ELIMINATING DUAL LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS AND TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMERS WHEN PURCHASING LOCKED HEARING AIDS.
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO MODERNIZE AUDIOLOGY LICENSURE STATUTES BY ELIMINATING DUAL LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS AND TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMERS WHEN PURCHASING LOCKED HEARING AIDS.
(b) Any person who meets the requirements of having both a doctoral degree in Audiology and holding a valid permanent unrestricted license as an audiologist audiologist, audiology assistant, or certified technician under Article 22 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes of North Carolina is exempt from licensure under this Chapter.
(b) Any person who meets the requirements of having both a doctoral degree in Audiology and holding a valid permanent unrestricted license as an audiologist audiologist, audiologyassistant, or certified technician under Article 22 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes of North Carolina is exempt from licensure under this Chapter.
*DRS15293-NN-50A* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 2.(a) Locked Hearing Aid Disclosures for Hearing Aid Fitters and Dealers.
*S654-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 2.(a) Locked Hearing Aid Disclosures for Hearing Aid Fitters and Dealers.
The seller shall retain a copy of thesignednoticeforatleastsevenyears,subjecttotheconditionsofsubsection(d)ofthissection.
The seller shall retain a copy of thesignednoticeforatleastseven years,subjecttotheconditionsofsubsection(d)ofthissection.
Page 2 DRS15293-NN-50A General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 These records shall be kept at the licensee's principal place of practice and shall be made available for inspection by the Board." SECTION 2.(b) Rulemaking.
Page 2 Senate Bill 654-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 These records shall be kept at the licensee's principal place of practice and shall be made available for inspection by the Board." SECTION 2.(b) Rulemaking.
"The hearing aid being purchased uses proprietary or locked programming software and can only be serviced or programmed at specific facilities or locations." This noticemust besigned by thepurchasing patient priorto sale completion.Theaudiologist shall retain a copy of the signed notice in the patient's file in addition to the record requirements of subsection (c) of this section.
"The hearing aid being purchased uses proprietary or locked programming software and can only be serviced or programmed at specific facilities or locations." This noticemust besigned bythepurchasingpatient priorto sale completion.Theaudiologist shall retain a copy of the signed notice in the patient's file in addition to the record requirements of subsection (c) of this section.
– Upon the consummation of a sale of a locked hearing aid, in addition to complying with G.S.
– Upon the consummation of a sale of a locked hearing aid, in addition to complyingwith G.S.
93D-7,theaudiologist shall givethepurchasing patient awritten receipt, signed by or on behalf of the audiologist, containing all of the following information:
93D-7,theaudiologist shall givethepurchasingpatient awritten receipt, signed by or on behalf of the audiologist, containing all of the following information:
(6) The terms of any guarantee or written warranty made to the purchasing patient with respect to the hearing aid.
(6) The terms of anyguarantee or written warrantymade to the purchasingpatient with respect to the hearing aid.
DRS15293-NN-50A Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 4.
Senate Bill 654-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 4.
Page 4 DRS15293-NN-50A
Page 4 Senate Bill 654-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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0 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 177 not signed on

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (177)

177 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 177 →

"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

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 654?
SB 654 is sponsored by Timothy D. Moffitt (Republican) and Benton G. Sawrey (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 654?
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 654?
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