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Bill

HB 45

General Statutes Commission Moral Turpitude/Occupational Licensure.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Ted Davis and 1 co-sponsor

NC directs General Statutes Commission to review which criminal convictions should disqualify individuals from occupational licenses, balancing criminal justice reform against public safety standards.

Withdrawn From Cal
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Bill Summary · HB 45

Legislative bill overview

HB 45 directs North Carolina's General Statutes Commission to study and review how "moral turpitude" offenses affect occupational licensure decisions across the state. The bill would examine current statutes to determine which criminal convictions should disqualify individuals from obtaining professional licenses and whether existing restrictions are justified.

Why is this important

Occupational licensing directly impacts employment opportunities for individuals with criminal histories. This review could determine whether thousands of North Carolinians face permanent barriers to work in fields like healthcare, education, construction, and cosmetology, while also potentially affecting public safety standards if licensing restrictions are reduced.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition ambiguity: "Moral turpitude" is legally vague and historically applied inconsistently; the commission must define what qualifies, which carries philosophical disagreement about rehabilitation vs. public protection
  • Criminal justice reform vs. public safety: Criminal justice advocates want broader licensing access for reformed individuals, while professional boards and consumers may oppose reducing standards they believe protect public welfare
  • Implementation burden: Different occupations have vastly different risk profiles (convicted violent offender as teacher vs. electrician); creating uniform standards across industries may be oversimplified or too granular

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

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