Bill
HB 693
Establishes Interstate Massage Compact for multistate licenses and an Interstate Commission, enabling cross-state data sharing and mobility while preserving public safety.
Status (brief)
- Bill introduced in the 2025 North Carolina session as House Bill 693. Filed in early April 2025 and referred to the House Health committee (with further referrals possible as the bill moves).
- Purpose: to have North Carolina enter an interstate compact establishing a multistate licensing pathway and an interstate commission to administer the compact for the practice of massage therapy.
Purpose and intent
- Reduce regulatory burdens on states and licensed massage therapists by creating a multistate licensing option.
- Improve public access to safe, competent massage therapy services while supporting license portability and mobility (including support for relocating military members and spouses).
- Facilitate cooperation among member states for licensing, information-sharing, investigation, and discipline.
Key provisions (what the bill would do)
- Establish an “Interstate Massage Compact” and add it to Chapter 90 of the NC General Statutes.
- Create definitions and standards for terms such as “multistate license,” “home state,” “remote state,” “licensee,” “national licensing examination,” “background check,” “adverse action,” and others.
- Authorize a multistate license: a license that, when issued by a licensee’s home state, grants authorization to practice in other member (remote) states under the compact. Multistate licensees remain subject to enforcement by remote states.
- Require criminal background checks and a national licensing examination (as defined by the Compact/Commission rules) as part of eligibility for a multistate license.
- Create mechanisms for sharing investigative information and adverse actions among member states via a data system.
- Allow member-state licensing authorities to take adverse action (suspension, revocation, restrictions) and require reporting of such actions to the compact data system.
- Provide for continuing competence requirements (as a condition of renewal) and permit nondisciplinary alternative monitoring/diversion programs.
- Establish an Interstate Commission (the “Interstate Massage Compact Commission”) to implement/administer the compact, adopt rules, operate the data system, and coordinate member-state cooperation. The Commission’s rules have the force of law for members.
Who would be affected
- Licensed massage therapists: creates a multistate licensing pathway that increases ability to practice in other member states without obtaining separate single‑state licenses.
- State licensing authorities / massage therapy regulatory boards: new responsibilities for data exchange, reporting, and enforcing compact rules; participation in Commission governance and rulemaking.
- Consumers: potential improved access to massage therapy services and coordinated disciplinary oversight across states.
- Military members and relocating professionals: benefit from streamlined mobility provisions.
Implementation, timeline & procedural notes
- Compact becomes effective only after enactment by states and through actions of the Interstate Commission (text provides for a Commission to be created to implement/administer the program). The bill adds NC’s statute language enabling entry into the compact; NC’s entry would take effect according to state enactment language and compact rules.
- Fiscal/administrative impacts are not specified in the bill text; participating states typically incur implementation costs (data system integration, Commission fees, rule implementation) offset by licensing fee revenues in some cases.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Benefits: greater license portability, improved information-sharing on discipline and investigations, better consumer protection across state lines, support for workforce mobility (including military families).
- Challenges: state administrative costs to join and participate; need to harmonize eligibility standards (exam, background checks, continuing education); potential legal and due‑process issues around multistate discipline and jurisdiction that member states should evaluate before joining.
For more detail
- The bill text contains the Compact’s definitions, licensing/discipline provisions, and establishing language for the Interstate Massage Compact Commission. Stakeholders (boards, therapists, employers) should review the full text and Commission rules once developed.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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