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SB 425

Relating to partisan judge and magistrate elections

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Maynard

Caps disciplinary costs charged to NC chiropractors at $2,000 and requires detailed, timely Board meeting minutes and public comment summaries.

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Bill Summary · SB 425

SB 425 — "Chiropractic Abuse of Costs." (Summary)

Status: Passed 1st Reading (introduced Feb 18, 2025)
Jurisdiction / subject focus: North Carolina — chiropractic regulation; professional licensing board procedures; public records and meetings

Main purpose

SB 425 limits the amount the North Carolina State Board of Chiropractic Examiners may recover from a licensee as the “costs” of disciplinary proceedings and strengthens requirements for the Board’s official meeting minutes and their timely publication. The measure is intended to cap cost assessments against chiropractors and increase transparency of Board actions.

Key provisions

  • Caps disciplinary cost recovery (amendment to G.S. 90‑157.4):

    • If a licensee is found to have violated statute or Board rule, the Board may charge costs of the disciplinary process, but the total cumulative costs charged to a licensee (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, meeting costs, investigative fees, and other costs) shall not exceed $2,000.
    • Defines “disciplinary action” broadly to include investigations, informal evidentiary reviews, settlement conferences, negotiations, probable cause hearings, disciplinary review committee meetings, full Board meetings, or combinations thereof.
    • Any settlement, consent order, final decision, or other dispositive document that requires a licensee to pay more than $2,000 in costs is void and unenforceable.
    • Preserves licensee's right to judicial review of civil penalties under Article 4 of Chapter 150B.

  • Meeting minutes and public transparency (amendment to G.S. 90‑144):

    • The Board must keep full and accurate minutes of all official meetings, including:
    • Summaries of treasurer’s, director’s, attorney’s and committee reports (except as otherwise allowed by statute).
    • Names of persons making public comments in open session and summaries of those comments (including rationale offered).
    • For motions decided by vote, the motion text and each Board member’s corresponding vote.
    • The Board must publish a draft of the minutes within 15 business days after each meeting and publish the final minutes immediately upon approval.

  • Implementation: The Board is required to adopt rules to implement the act.

Who is affected

  • Licensed chiropractors in North Carolina (may pay lower maximum costs in disciplinary matters).
  • North Carolina State Board of Chiropractic Examiners (limits on cost recovery; new recordkeeping and publication duties).
  • Members of the public and stakeholders (greater access to meeting recordings/minutes and names/summaries of public comment).

Timeline / procedural notes

  • Effective date: October 1, 2025.
  • Applies to disciplinary actions (as defined in the bill) on or after that date.
  • Current status reported as Passed 1st Reading (introduced Feb 18, 2025); Board rulemaking required to implement specifics.

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Reduces potential financial exposure for licensees in disciplinary processes and may limit the Board’s ability to recoup full enforcement costs.
  • By voiding settlement terms exceeding the cap, the bill could change negotiation dynamics in consent orders.
  • Increased transparency and faster publication of minutes may improve public accountability of Board actions but may require modest administrative resources to produce timely drafts and final minutes.
  • The cap may shift some enforcement costs to the state or require adjustments in Board procedures to remain within the cap.

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

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