HB 854 North Carolina House · 2025-2026 Session

Require Licensure of Educational Interpreters.

HB 854 removes the current exemption for educational interpreters and transliterators from state licensure requirements. This means individuals who provide accessible communication services to students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and higher education will now be required to obtain a license. The bill also allows continuing education hours earned for license renewal to count towards their existing job-related training requirements. These changes are set to become effective on October 1, 2026.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Apr 9, 2025 Last action May 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Edition 1 → Edition 2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision removes exemptions for educational interpreters and transliterators from licensure requirements, requiring them to obtain state licensure under the North Carolina Interpreter and Transliterator Licensing Act. The changes expand the scope of who must be licensed and establish specific qualification criteria for licensure and provisional licensing.

Scope change

The bill now applies licensure requirements to educational interpreters and transliterators who were previously exempt, extending regulatory oversight to this profession in K-12 and higher education settings.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Interpreter' and 'Educational transliterator' to clarify the scope of covered professionals.

REQUIREMENT

Added new licensure requirements under G.S. 90D-7, establishing specific qualifications including age, moral character, and multiple pathways to certification including national certifications and state assessments.

Added new provisional license requirements under G.S. 90D-8, creating a temporary licensing pathway for individuals meeting specific educational and certification standards.

Modified G.S. 115C-110.2 to reference the new licensure framework instead of standalone continuing education requirements for local educational agencies.

EXEMPTIONS

Removed the exemption for educational interpreters or transliterators from licensure requirements that was previously listed in G.S. 90D-4(b)(5).

ENFORCEMENT

Added criminal record check procedures for license applicants through the Department of Public Safety and State Bureau of Investigation.

Floor votes · House May 7, 2025

How they voted

111–1

Passed · 9 other

Total votes 121

May 7, 2025

D Democratic46

41 Yea 1 Nay 4

89% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican73

68 Yea 5

93% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 8, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

May 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed 3rd Reading

lower

May 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav

lower

May 6, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

May 6, 2025

Committee

Serial Referral To Finance Stricken

lower

May 6, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Regulatory Reform

lower

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav Com Substitute

lower

Apr 28, 2025

Committee

Serial Referral To Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Added

lower

Apr 28, 2025

Committee

Serial Referral To Finance Added

lower

Apr 28, 2025

Committee

Serial Referral To Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Stricken

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Committee

Ref to the Com on Education - K-12, if favorable, Regulatory Reform, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Introduced

Filed

lower

3 primary · 3 co-sponsors