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HB 1033

Dental Board Reform.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Sarah Stevens

The bill overhauls NC’s Dental Examiners Board with a 10-member mix of dentists, hygienists, and public members, expands rulemaking and strengthens enforcement against unlicensed p

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Bill Summary · HB 1033

Summary of HB 1033 (Dental Board Reform) — North Carolina, 2025 Session

Date Filed: April 21, 2026

Sponsor: Representative Stevens (co-sponsor: Sarah Stevens)

Purpose
- The bill makes comprehensive reforms to the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners in response to a court decision involving the Federal Trade Commission, and to modernize governance, procedures, and regulatory authority within the board system.
- It aims to reconstitute the board’s composition, adjust appointment methods, enhance training and transparency, and expand rulemaking and enforcement powers for occupational licensing boards generally.

Main Provisions and Changes

1) Statutory Revisions to the Dental Examiners Act (G.S. Chapter 90)
- Official Title and Purpose
- Rewrites and clarifies provisions governing the practice of dentistry, the Board of Dental Examiners, and board governance.

  • Board Composition (G.S. 90-22(b), reorganized as 90-22(b1) and related subsections)

    • The Board shall consist of 10 members total:
    • 6 licensed dentists (NC), with at least five years of practice immediately preceding appointment.
    • 2 dental hygienists licensed in NC, with at least five years of practice for the relevant seats.
    • 2 public consumer members who are NC residents/citizens, meeting strict eligibility criteria (no dental licenses, no financial interest in dental services, no prior licensing by any health-occupational agency, no employment/financial ties to the Board, etc.).
    • Voting limitations:
    • Dental hygienists and consumer members cannot participate in or vote on license issuance, renewal, or revocation for dentistry or dental hygiene.
    • Terms and elections:
    • Dentists: 3-year terms, with possible one additional consecutive term; maximum of two terms. Elections staggered (two dentists every three years).
    • Hygienists: 3-year term, elected every three years.
    • Public consumer: 3-year terms appointed by the Governor (while preserving the staged appointment pattern).
    • Appointment and nomination process:
    • Composition is structured to be filled via a combination of gubernatorial appointment and Legislative/Executive appointments (as detailed in new Section 90-22A).

  • Repeal and Replacement

    • Repeals existing G.S. 90-22(c) through (e) (Board of Dental Elections provisions).
    • Enacts a new regime with Section 90-22A governing appointment, vacancies, compensation, and officer structure.

2) New Appointment Framework (G.S. 90-22A)
- Four members appointed by the Governor (two dentists, one hygienist, one public consumer).
- Four members appointed by the General Assembly (two dentists by Speaker recommendations, two dentists by President Pro Tempore).
- Two members appointed by the Commissioner of Labor (one hygienist, one public consumer).
- Vacancies filled by the same appointment method; unexpired terms handled per specified timelines.
- Compensation: per diem and travel/subsistence as in existing law (G.S. 93B-5).
- Officers: Board to elect a chair (must be a licensed dentist), a vice-chair, and other officers as needed (one-year terms).

3) Transition Rules
- Existing Board members serve out their current terms. New appointments follow the new framework for future seats.
- Specific sequencing for appointing dentists, hygienists, and consumer members to align with the new term structure.

4) Training and Standards (G.S. 93B)
- New mandatory training for Board members within six months of initial appointment and at least every two years on:
- Administrative procedures (Chapter 150B), public records (Chapter 132), Open Meetings (Art. 33C), state tort claims/defense of state employees, State Ethics Act (Chapter 138A), lobbying (Chapter 120C).
- Antitrust law and state action immunity as part of the training; completion of certain training (Ethics and Lobbying) satisfies portions of the requirement.

5) Expanded Rulemaking and Unlicensed Activity Authority (New Sections within G.S. 93B)
- § 93B-17. Rulemaking authority for occupational licensing boards:
- Boards must adopt rules for complaint receipt/resolution, disciplinary actions, and enforcement actions against unlicensed persons.
- Any interpretation of scope of practice must be adopted as a rule.
- § 93B-18. Unlicensed activity enforcement:
- Boards can investigate unlicensed activity and provide notices describing potential violations, without making legal determinations.
- Notices must include a statement clarifying that only a court can determine violations and remedies, and inform about declaratory rulings.
- § 93B-19 to § 93B-22. Jurisdiction, venue, injunctive relief, and a standardized complaint process:
- Sets venue for enforcement actions, allows boards to seek injunctive relief in Superior Court, and provides procedures for resolving inter-board jurisdictional disputes.
- Mandates each board to develop a public-facing complaint procedure, including electronic submission and disclosure of final dispositions.

Effective Dates
- Section 4(a) training provisions: effective six months after initial appointment; ongoing biennial training.
- Section 4(b) expanded rulemaking and enforcement provisions: effective six months after enactment.
- General effective date: Remaining sections become effective upon enactment.

Potential Impact

  • Governance: A more diversified board composition with a formal, state-wide appointment framework intended to increase independence and public representation, while maintaining professional expertise on the board.
  • Public protection: Stricter public consumer participation and explicit limits on voting on licensing matters, aiming to reduce conflicts of interest.
  • Oversight and transparency: Enhanced training requirements and a formalized complaint and rulemaking process to improve accountability and public transparency.
  • Regulatory authority: Expanded ability for boards to address unlicensed practice, regulate scope of practice through formal rules, and pursue enforcement through established legal avenues.

Who Is Affected

  • North Carolina-licensed dentists and dental hygienists (board seats, terms, and eligibility).
  • Public consumers serving on the Board (strict eligibility criteria to ensure independence).
  • The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners (subject to governance, training, and rulemaking reforms).
  • Other occupational licensing boards in North Carolina (Section 93B framework, applicable to all boards).
  • The General Assembly and Executive Branch (appointment responsibilities for certain seats).

Note on Scope
- While the bill centers on the Dental Examiners Board, several provisions establish broader OSS (occupational licensing) governance reforms that would impact rulemaking, enforcement, and inter-board coordination across licensing boards in the state.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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