The SAVE Act.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 966

Short Title: The SAVE Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Burgin and Hise (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S966-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO DEFINE THE PRACTICE OF NURSING FOR ADVANCED PRACTI CE 2
REGISTERED NURSES: N URSE PRACTITIONERS ( NP), CERTIFIED NURSE 3
MIDWIVES (CNM), CERT IFIED REGISTERED NUR SE ANESTHETISTS (CRN A), 4
AND CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALISTS (CNS). 5
Whereas, North Carolina is expected to be the seventh largest state in the nation by 6
2035 and demand for health care will continue to increase; and 7
Whereas, North Carolina has provided over 628,000 North Carolinians access to 8
insurance through Medicaid expansion but lacks the health care providers to ensure their access 9
to care; and 10
Whereas, APRNs are registered nurses with master's or doctorate degrees and 11
advanced education and training; and 12
Whereas, North Carolina has over 20,000 advanced practice regist ered nurses 13
(APRNs) who have been educated and licensed to practice to their full scope; and 14
Whereas, more than three decades of research demonstrates that APRNs improve 15
access to safe, high-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered health care; and 16
Whereas, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has called for states to allow APRNs to 17
practice to the full extent of their licensure and education since the 2010 release of the IOM 18
Report on the Future of Nursing; and 19
Whereas, health care costs in North Carolina are among the highest in the nation; and 20
Whereas, a recent report by a Ph.D. health care economist at Duke University 21
estimates savings of at least $700 million annually for North Carolina patients, employers, and 22
taxpayers by removing unnecessary and antiquated government regulations; and 23
Whereas, 36 other states have rolled back these costly and burdensome government 24
regulations on advanced practice registered nurses over the past 31 years with no evidence of 25
negative effects on patient safety, and indeed pos itive impact on patient care, according to 26
numerous studies; and 27
Whereas, no state has enacted these reforms and later reversed course to reinstate 28
these government regulations; and 29
Whereas, the APRN role has existed for over a half century but remains undefined in 30
North Carolina statute; and 31
Whereas, North Carolina's courts and executive branch have called on the legislature, 32
the body of the people, to remove the ambiguity surrounding APRN practice by clearly defining 33
it in statute; Now, therefore, 34
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 35
SECTION 1. G.S. 90-171.20 reads as rewritten: 36
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 966-First Edition
"§ 90-171.20. Definitions. 1
As used in this Article, unless the context requires otherwise: 2
(1) Advanced assessment. – The taking by an advanced practice registered nurse 3
of the history, physical, and psychological assessment of a patient 's signs, 4
symptoms, pathophysio logic status, and psychosocial variations in the 5
determination of differential diagnoses and treatment. 6
(1a) Advanced practice registered nurse or APRN. – An individual licensed by the 7
Board as an advanced practice registered nurse within one of the following 8
four roles: 9
a. Certified nurse practitioner or CNP. 10
b. Certified nurse midwife or CNM. 11
c. Clinical nurse specialist or CNS. 12
d. Certified registered nurse anesthetist or CRNA. 13
(1b) "Board" means the Board. – The North Carolina Board of Nursing. 14
(2) "Health care provider" means any Health care provider. – Any licensed health 15
care professional and any agent or employee of any health care institution, 16
health care insurer, health care professional school, or a member of any allied 17
health profession. For purposes of this Article, a person enrolled in a program 18
that prepares the person to be a licensed health care professional or an allied 19
health professional shall be deemed a health care provider. 20
(3) "License" means a License. – A permit issued by the Board to practice nursing 21
as an advanced practice registered nurse, as a registered nurse nurse, or as a 22
licensed practical nurse, including a renewal or reinstatement thereof. 23
(3a) "Licensee" means any Licensee. – Any person issued a license by the Board, 24
whether the license is activ e or inactive, including an inactive license by 25
means of surrender. 26
(4) "Nursing" is a Nursing. – A dynamic discipline which includes the assessing, 27
caring, counseling, teaching, referring and implementing of prescribed 28
treatment in the maintenance of health, prevention and management of illness, 29
injury, disability or the achievement of a dignified death. It is ministering to; 30
assisting; and sustained, vigilant, and continuous care of those acutely or 31
chronically ill; supervising patients during convale scence and rehabilitation; 32
the supportive and restorative care given to maintain the optimum health level 33
of individuals, groups, and communities; the supervision, teaching, and 34
evaluation of those who perform or are preparing to perform these functions; 35
and the administration of nursing programs and nursing services. For purposes 36
of this Article, the administration of required lethal substances or any 37
assistance whatsoever rendered with an execution under Article 19 of Chapter 38
15 of the General Statutes does not constitute nursing. 39
(5) "Nursing program" means any Nursing program. – Any educational program 40
in North Carolina offering to prepare persons to meet the educational 41
requirements for licensure under this Article.Article as a registered nurse or a 42
licensed practical nurse. 43
(6) "Person" means an Person. – An individual, corporation, partnership, 44
association, unit of government, or other legal entity. 45
(6a) Population focus. – With respect to APRN practice, includes one of t he 46
following areas of focus: 47
a. The family or the individual across the life span. 48
b. Adult/gerontology. 49
c. Neonatal. 50
d. Pediatrics. 51
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Senate Bill 966-First Edition Page 3
e. Women's health or gender-related issues. 1
f. Psychiatric mental health. 2
(6b) Practice of nursing as a certified nurse midwife or CNM. – In addition to the 3
RN scope of practice and APRN role and population foci, also consists of the 4
following four components: 5
a. The management, diagnosis, and treatment of primary sexual and 6
reproductive health care, including primary, prec onception, 7
gynecologic/reproductive/sexual health, antepartum, intrapartum, 8
neonatal, and post-pregnancy care. 9
b. Ordering, performing, supervising, and interpreting diagnostic studies. 10
c. Prescribing pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies. 11
d. Consulting with or referring to other health care providers as 12
warranted by the needs of the patient. 13
(6c) Practice of nursing as a certified nurse practitioner or CNP. – In addition to 14
the RN scope of practice and APRN role and population foci, also consists of 15
the following six components: 16
a. Health promotion, disease prevention, health education, and 17
counseling. 18
b. Providing health assessment and screening activities. 19
c. Diagnosing, treating, and facilitating patients ' management of their 20
acute and chronic illnesses and diseases. 21
d. Ordering, performing, supervising, and interpreting diagnostic studies. 22
e. Prescribing pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies. 23
f. Consulting with or referring to other health care providers as 24
warranted by the needs of the patient. 25
(6d) Practice of nursing as a certified registered nurse anesthetist or CRNA. – In 26
addition to the RN scope of practice and within the APRN role and population 27
foci, also consists of the following: 28
a. Selecting, ordering, procuring, prescribing, and administering drugs 29
and therapeutic devices to facilitate diagnostic, therapeutic, and 30
surgical procedures. 31
b. Ordering, prescribing, performing, supervising, and interpreting 32
diagnostic studies, procedures, and interventions. 33
c. Consulting with or referring to other health care providers as 34
warranted by the needs of the patient. 35
(6e) Practice of nursing as a clinical nurse specialist or CNS. – In addition to the 36
RN scope of practice and APRN role and population foci, also consists of the 37
following eight components: 38
a. The diagnosis and treatment of health and illness states. 39
b. Disease management. 40
c. Prescribing pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies. 41
d. Ordering, performing, supervising, and interpreting diagnostic studies. 42
e. Prevention of illness and risk behaviors. 43
f. Nursing care for individuals, families, and communities. 44
g. Integrating care across the continuum to improve patient outcomes. 45
h. Consulting with or referring to other health care providers as 46
warranted by the needs of the patient. 47
(6f) Practice of nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse or APRN. – In 48
addition to the RN scope of practice and within the APRN role and population 49
foci, also consists of the following six components: 50
a. Conducting an advanced assessment. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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b. Delegating and assigning therapeutic measures to assistive personnel. 1
c. Performing other acts that require education and training consistent 2
with professional standards and commensurate with the APRN 's 3
education, certification, demonstrated competencies, and experience. 4
d. Complying with the requirements of this Article and rendering quality 5
advanced nursing care. 6
e. Recognizing limits of knowledge and experience. 7
f. Planning for the management of situations beyond the APRN 's 8
expertise. 9
(7) The "practice of nursing by a registered nurse" consists Practice of nursing by 10
a registered nurse. – Consists of the following 10 components: 11
a. Assessing the patient's physical and mental health, including the 12
patient's reaction to illnesses and treatment regimens. 13
b. Recording and reporting the results of the nursing assessment. 14
c. Planning, initiating, delivering, and evaluating appropriate nursing 15
acts. 16
d. Teaching, assigning, delegating to or supervising other personnel in 17
implementing the treatment regimen. 18
e. Collaborating with other health care providers in determining the 19
appropriate health care for a patient but, subject to the provisions of 20
G.S. 90-18.2, not prescribing a medical treatment regimen or making 21
a medical diagnosis, excep t under supervision of a licensed 22
physician.patient. 23
f. Implementing the treatment and pharmaceutical regimen prescribed or 24
ordered by any person authorized by State law to prescribe or order 25
the regimen. 26
g. Providing teaching and counseling about the patient's health. 27
h. Reporting and recording the plan for care, nursing care given, and the 28
patient's response to that care. 29
i. Supervising, teaching, and evaluating those who perform or are 30
preparing to perform nursing functions and administering nursing 31
programs and nursing services. 32
j. Providing for the maintenance of safe and effective nursing care, 33
whether rendered directly or indirectly. 34
(8) The "practice of nursing by a licensed practical nurse" consists of the 35
following seven components: 36
a. Participating in the assessment of the patient's physical and mental 37
health, including the patient's reaction to illnesses and treatment 38
regimens. 39
b. Recording and reporting the results of the nursing assessment. 40
c. Participating in implementing the health care plan developed by the 41
registered nurse and/or prescribed by any person authorized by State 42
law to prescribe such a plan, by performing tasks assigned or delegated 43
by and performed under the supervision or under orders or directions 44
of a registered nurse, physician licensed to practice medicine, dentist, 45
or other person authorized by State law to provide the supervision. 46
c1. Assigning or delegating nursing interventions to other qualified 47
personnel under the supervision of the registered nurse. 48
d. Participating in the teaching and counseling of patients as assigned by 49
a registered nurse, physician, or other qualified professional licensed 50
to practice in North Carolina. 51
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Senate Bill 966-First Edition Page 5
e. Reporting and recording the nursing care rendered and the patient's 1
response to that care. 2
f. Maintaining safe and effective nursing care, whether rendered directly 3
or indirectly." 4
SECTION 2. G.S. 90-18(c) reads as rewritten: 5
"(c) The following shall not constitute practicing medicine or surgery as defined in this 6
Article: 7
… 8
(7) The practice of midwifery as defined in G.S. 90-178.2. 9
… 10
(14) The practice of nursing by a an advanced practice registered nurse engaged in 11
the practice of nursing and the performance of acts otherwise constituting 12
medical practice by a registered nurse when per formed in accordance with 13
rules and regulations developed by a joint subcommittee of the North Carolina 14
Medical Board and the Board of Nursing and adopted by both boards. as 15
defined in Article 9A of this Chapter. 16
…." 17
SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 90-18.2 is repealed. 18
SECTION 3.(b) G.S. 90-2(a) reads as rewritten: 19
"(a) There is established the North Carolina Medical Board to regulate the practice of 20
medicine and surgery for the benefit and protection of the people of North Carolina. The Board 21
shall consist of 13 members: 22
… 23
(2) Five members shall all be appointed by the Governor as follows: 24
… 25
d. One shall be a certified nurse practitioner as defined in G.S. 90-18.2 26
as recommended by the Review Panel pursuant to G.S. 90-3. 27
…." 28
SECTION 3.(c) G.S. 90-18.3(a) reads as rewritten: 29
"(a) Whenever a statute or State agency rule requires that a medical or physical 30
examination shall be conducted by a physician, the examination may be conducted and the form 31
signed by a certified nurse practitioner or a physician assistant, and a ph ysician need not be 32
present. Nothing in this section shall otherwise change the scope of practice of a certified nurse 33
practitioner or a physician assistant, as defined by G.S. 90-18.1 and G.S. 90-18.2, 34
respectively.assistant." 35
SECTION 3.(d) G.S. 90-85.24(a) reads as rewritten: 36
"(a) The Board of Pharmacy shall be entitled to charge and collect not more than the 37
following fees: 38
… 39
(13) For annual registration as a dispensing nurse practitioner under G.S. 90-18.2, 40
practitioner, seventy-five dollars ($75.00); 41
…." 42
SECTION 3.(e) G.S. 90-85.34A reads as rewritten: 43
"§ 90-85.34A. Public health pharmacy practice. 44
… 45
(c) This section does not affect the practice of certified nurse practitioners pursuant to 46
G.S. 90-18.2 or of physician assistants pursuant to G.S. 90-18.1." 47
SECTION 4. G.S. 90-29(b) reads as rewritten: 48
"(b) A person shall be deemed to be practicing dentistry in this State who does, undertakes 49
or attempts to do, or claims the ability to do any one or more of the following acts or things 50
which, for the purposes of this Article, constitute the practice of dentistry: 51
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… 1
(6) Administers an anesthetic of any kind in the treatment of dental or oral 2
diseases or physical conditions, or in preparation for or incident to any 3
operation within the oral cavity; provided, however, that this subsection shall 4
not apply to a lawfully qualified certified registered nurse anesthetist who 5
administers such anesthetic under the supervision and direction of a licensed 6
dentist or physician, anesthetic, or to a registered dental hygienist qualified to 7
administer local anesthetics. 8
…." 9
SECTION 5. G.S. 90-171.23(b) reads as rewritten: 10
"(b) Duties, powers. The Board is empowered to: 11
… 12
(14) Appoint and maintain a subcommittee of the Board to work jointly with the 13
subcommittee of the No rth Carolina Medical Board to develop rules and 14
regulations to govern the performance of medical acts by registered nurses 15
and to determine reasonable fees to accompany an application for approval or 16
renewal of such approval as provided in G.S. 90-8.2. The fees and rules 17
developed by this subcommittee shall govern the performance of medical acts 18
by registered nurses and shall become effective when they have been adopted 19
by both Boards. Grant prescribing, ordering, dispensing, and furnishing 20
authority to holders of the advanced practice registered nurse license pursuant 21
to G.S. 90-171.20. 22
…." 23
SECTION 6. G.S. 90-171.27(b) reads as rewritten: 24
"§ 90-171.27. Expenses payable from fees collected by Board. 25
… 26
(b) The schedule of fees shall not exceed the following rates: 27
Application for license as advanced practice registered nurse ............................... $100.00 28
Renewal of license to practice as advanced practice registered nurse 29
(two-year period)............................................................................................. 100.00 30
Reinstatement of lapsed license to practice as advanced practice 31
registered nurse and renewal fee ..................................................................... 180.00 32
… 33
Reasonable charge for duplication services and materials. 34
A fee for an item listed in this schedule shall not increase from one year to the next by more 35
than twenty percent (20%)." 36
SECTION 7.(a) Article 9A of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by 37
adding the following new sections to read: 38
"§ 90-171.36B. Advanced practice registered nurse licensure. 39
(a) No advanced practice registered nurse shall practice as an advanced practice 40
registered nurse unless the nurse is licensed by the Board under this section. 41
(b) An applicant for a license to practice as an APRN shall apply to the Board in a format 42
prescribed by the Board and pay a fee in an amount determined under G.S. 90-171.27. 43
(c) The Board shall adopt rules, not inconsistent with this Article, which identify t he 44
criteria which must be met by an applicant in order to be issued a license. 45
"§ 90-171.36C. Advanced practice registered nurse licensure; grandfathering exceptions. 46
(a) The Board shall issue an APRN license to any person recognized by the Board as an 47
APRN or approved to practice as an APRN in this State on or before the date that this section 48
becomes law. 49
(b) An advanced practice registered nurse licensed under this section shall maintain all 50
practice privileges provided to licensed advanced practice registered nurses under this Chapter. 51
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"§ 90-171.36D. Advanced practice registered nurse licensure renewal; reinstatement. 1
(a) An applicant for renewal of an APRN license issued under this Article shall apply for 2
licensure renewal according to the frequency and schedule established by the Board and pay the 3
required fee. 4
(b) Failure to renew the APRN license before the expiration date shall result in automatic 5
forfeiture of the right to practice nursing as an APRN in North Carolina until such time as the 6
license has been reinstated. 7
(c) An APRN licensee who has allowed his or her license to lapse by failure to renew 8
may apply for reinstatement in a manner prescribed by the Board and pay the required fee. 9
(d) The Board shall adopt rul es, not inconsistent with this Article, which identify the 10
criteria which must be met by an applicant for APRN license renewal or reinstatement." 11
SECTION 7.(b) G.S. 90-171.37(b) is repealed. 12
SECTION 8. G.S. 90-171.43 reads as rewritten: 13
"§ 90-171.43. License required. 14
(a) No person shall practice or offer to practice as a an advanced practice registered nurse, 15
registered nurse nurse, or licensed practical nurse, or use the word "nurse" as a title for herself or 16
himself, or use an abbreviation to indica te that the person is a an advanced practice registered 17
nurse, registered nurse nurse, or licensed practical nurse, unless the person is currently licensed 18
as a an advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse nurse, or licensed practical nurse as 19
provided by this Article. If the word "nurse" is part of a longer title, such as "nurse's aide", a 20
person who is entitled to use that title shall use the entire title and may not abbreviate the title to 21
"nurse". This Article shall not, however, be construed to prohibit or limit the following: 22
(1) The performance by any person of any act for which that person holds a 23
license issued pursuant to North Carolina law;law. 24
(2) The clinical practice by students enrolled in approved nursing programs, 25
continuing education programs, or refresher courses under the supervision of 26
qualified faculty;faculty. 27
(3) The performance of nursing performed by persons who hold a temporary 28
license issued pursuant to G.S. 90-171.33;G.S. 90-171.33. 29
(4) The delegation to any person, including a member of the patient's family, by 30
a physician licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina, a licensed dentist 31
or registered nurse of those patient-care services which are routine, repetitive, 32
limited in scope that do not require the professional judgment of a registered 33
nurse or licensed practical nurse;nurse. 34
(5) Assistance by any person in the case of emergency. 35
Any person permitted to practice nur sing without a license as provided in subdivision (2) 36
(a)(2) or (3) (a)(3) of this section shall be held to the same standard of care as any licensed nurse. 37
(a1) The abbreviations for the APRN designation of a certified nurse midwife, a clinical 38
nurse specialist, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, and a certified nurse practitioner shall be 39
APRN, plus the role title, i.e., CNM, CNS, CRNA, and CNP. 40
(a2) It shall be unlawful for any person to use the title "APRN" or "APRN" plus their 41
respective role titles, the role title alone, authorized abbreviations, or any other title that would 42
lead a person to believe the individual is an APRN, unless permitted by this act. 43
…." 44
SECTION 9. G.S. 90-171.43A reads as rewritten: 45
"§ 90-171.43A. Mandatory employer verification of licensure status. 46
(a) Before hiring an advanced practice registered nurse, a registered nurse nurse, or a 47
licensed practical nurse in North Carolina, a health care facility shall verify that the applicant has 48
a current, valid license to practice nursing pursuant to G.S. 90-171.43. 49
(b) For purposes of this section, "health care facility" means: 50
(1) Facilities described in G.S. 131E-256(b). 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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(2) Public health departments, physicians' offices, ambulatory care facilities, and 1
rural health clinics." 2
SECTION 10. G.S. 90-171.44 reads as rewritten: 3
"§ 90-171.44. Prohibited acts. 4
It shall be a violation of this Article, and subject to action under G.S. 90-171.37, for any 5
person to: 6
(1) Sell, fraudulently obtain, or fraudu lently furnish any nursing diploma or aid 7
or abet therein. 8
(2) Practice nursing under cover of any fraudulently obtained license. 9
(3) Practice nursing without a license. This subdivision shall not be construed to 10
prohibit any licensed registered nurse who has successfully completed a 11
program established under G.S. 90-171.38(b) from conducting medical 12
examinations or performing procedures to collect evidence from the victims 13
of offenses described in that subsection. 14
(3a) Refer to himself or herself as an advanced practice registered nurse; or refer 15
to himself or herself as any of the four roles of advanced practice registered 16
nurses, a registered nurse, or a licensed practical nurse; or use the 17
abbreviations "APRN," "CNM," "CNS," "CRNA," "CNP," "RN," and "LPN." 18
(4) Conduct a nursing program or a refresher course for activation of a license, 19
that is not approved by the Board. 20
(5) Employ unlicensed persons to practice nursing." 21
SECTION 11.(a) Article 10A of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is repealed. 22
SECTION 11.(b) G.S. 90-21.11 reads as rewritten: 23
"§ 90-21.11. Definitions. 24
The following definitions apply in this Article: 25
(1) Health care provider. – Without limitation, any of the following: 26
a. A person who pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 90 of the General 27
Statutes is licensed, or is otherwise registered or certified to engage in 28
the practice of or otherwise performs duties associated with any of the 29
following: medicine, surgery, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, 30
midwifery, osteopathy, podiatry, chiropractic, radiology, nursing, 31
physiotherapy, pathology, anesthesiology, anesthesia, laboratory 32
analysis, rendering assistance to a physician, dental hygiene, 33
psychiatry, or psychology. 34
…." 35
SECTION 11.(c) G.S. 115C-407.57(b)(2), as amended by S.L. 2025 -49, reads as 36
rewritten: 37
"(2) If a student participating in an interscholastic athletic activity exhibits signs 38
or symptoms consistent with a concussion, the student shall be removed from 39
the activity at that time and shall not be allowed to return to play or practice 40
that day. The student shall not return to play or practice on a subsequent day 41
until the student is evaluated by and receives written clearance for such 42
participation from one of the following: 43
… 44
e. A certified nurse practitioner, consistent with the limitations of 45
G.S. 90-18.2.provisions of Article 9A of Chapter 90 of the General 46
Statutes. 47
…." 48
SECTION 12.(a) No later than 30 calendar days after this act becomes law, the 49
Governor shall sub mit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services an "opt -out" letter 50
requesting an exemption under 42 C.F.R. § 482.52(c) that allows hospitals, ambulatory surgical 51
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centers, critical access hospitals, and rural hospitals in this State the maximum flexi bility to 1
obtain Medicare reimbursement for anesthesia services in a manner that best serves each facility 2
and the patients and communities the facility serves. 3
SECTION 12.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law. 4
SECTION 13.(a) The North Carolina Board of Nursing, the North Carolina Medical 5
Board, and the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners shall adopt rules to implement 6
the provisions of this act. 7
SECTION 13.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law. 8
SECTION 14. The Revisor of Statutes shall change all references to nurse 9
practitioners to instead be references to certified nurse practitioners and shall change all 10
references to the abbreviation NP to instead be references to the abbreviation CNP, wherever 11
those terms appear i n the following statutes: G.S. 15-190, 20 -37.6(c1), 55B -14(c), 58 -3-169, 12
58-50-30, 58-51-45, 90-1.1, 90-3, 90-21.17, 90-21.81, 90-171.21, 90-724, 108A-77.1, 115C-323, 13
115C-375.2A, 122C-263.1, 122C-465, 130A-115, 130A-440.1, and 131D-4.8. 14
SECTION 15. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective 90 days after it 15
becomes law. 16