Senate committee substitute to the 1st edition removes the content of the previous edition and replaces it with the following. Changes the act’s titles.

Amends GS 93B-15.3, concerning licensure recognition for individuals licensed in other (was, neighboring) states, as follows. Amends the conditions that must be met in order for occupational licensing boards or State agency licensing boards subject to the statute to be required to issue a license, certification, or registration to an applicant establishing residency in this State, to: (1) no longer require that the applicant demonstrate competency in the profession through methods determined by the board; (2) expanding where the applicant must be currently licensed, certified, or registered to include any other state or US territory or the District of Columbia (was, limited to Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia); (3) make conforming changes.

Prohibits an occupational licensing board or State agency licensing board from requiring an applicant eligible for universal licensure recognition under this statute from requiring the applicant to: (1) demonstrate that they are licensed at the same or substantially equivalent practice level in another jurisdiction or that the licensure, certification, or registration requirements of the other jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to or exceed North Carolina’s requirements or (2) complete additional education, training, examination, apprenticeship, clinical supervision, supervised practice, or other experience as a condition of licensure, certification, or registration (specifies that this does not prohibit requiring an exam specified to the laws of North Carolina if an exam is required for all other applicants, a criminal history record check, or other administrative requirements imposed on all applicants for the same credential).

Sets out actions that must be taken for an incomplete application for universal licensure recognition. Requires the relevant board to either grant or deny the application with 30 days of receiving a completed application. Requires written notice for any denial that includes the basis for the denial.

Allows applicants alleging that a board has not met the required time frame or has imposed prohibited requirements to file a complaint with the Department of Labor (DOL). Requires the DOL to review the complaint, give a copy to the relevant board and give it 10 business days to respond, issue written findings to the applicant and board within 30 days after receiving the board’s response (or within 40 days if the board does not respond), include any corrective action necessary in the written findings, and share a copy of the written findings with the Attorney General and specified NCGA committee. Specifies that an applicant may still seek judicial review or other relief.

Requires a processing fee of $25 to be paid to the board from which the applicant is seeking licensure, certification, or registration, to be used to administer this statute. Waives the fee for active duty miliary service members, members of the Armed Forces reserve components, members of the National Guard, veterans who applied within one year of separation, or the spouse of those members.

Amends who is subject to this universal licensure by also excluding: (1) clinical social workers licensed under GS Chapter 90B; (2) commodity merchants and certification of sworn law enforcement officers certified under GS Chapters 17C, 17E, or 74E; (3) licensure, certification, or registration for an occupation to the extent that recognition under the statute would conflict with minimum standards that federal law requires the State to impose for licensure; and (4) licenses issued to a business or a facility, rather to an individual. Also amends who is subject to the universal licensure by no longer excluding: (1) architects licensed under GS Chapter 83A, (2) certified public accountants licensed under GS Chapter 93, (3) engineers licensed under GS Chapter 89C, and (4) certification of any practitioner by the North Carolina On-Site Wastewater Contractors and Inspectors Certification Board under Article 5 of GS Chapter 90A.

Amends GS 93B-2, to require beginning October 31, 2027, that each board subject to GS 93B-15.3 include the specified data for the previous fiscal year in its annual report to the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee. Expands upon what must be included in the report to also include: (1) the average number of days between receipt of a completed application and final action on the application and (2) number of complaints filed with DOL and the disposition of those complaints.

Enacts new GS 93B-9.1 prohibiting an occupational licensing board or a State agency licensing board from requiring an individual to complete continuing education or similar recurring training as a condition of renewing or maintaining a license, certification, or registration if the individual: (1) is 65 years of age or older and (2) has been actively engaged in the practice of the occupation, profession, or activity for which the license, certification, or registration is held in this state for at least 25 years. Excludes occupational licensing boards and State agency licensing boards that are exempt from GS 93B-15.3. Specifies that this does not prohibit an individual who qualifies for an exemption from voluntarily completing those trainings. 

Effective October 1, 2026.