North Carolina Rep. Potts social work interstate licensure compact bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill sponsored by State Rep. Potts aims to facilitate interstate social work practice by providing mutual license recognition, increasing service access, and supporting workforce mobility, according to the North Carolina State House.

In the House, 48 Democrats and 68 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 19 Democrats and 25 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Potts filed the bill in the North Carolina House on Feb. 26 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as HB 231, was passed on June 11 during the 2025 regular session.

According to the North Carolina General Assembly site, the bill’s official text was formally listed with the short title: “Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact.”

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill establishes the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact, aimed at facilitating the interstate practice of social work by providing mutual recognition of licenses among member states. The Compact intends to increase access to social work services, reduce the burdens of multiple state licensures, enhance public protection, and allow the use of telehealth. It supports mobility, addresses workforce shortages, and particularly aids military families. The bill delineates eligibility criteria for states to join the Compact and establishes the Social Work Licensure Compact Commission to oversee its implementation, rulemaking, and enforcement. The effective date for enactment is contingent upon at least seven states adopting the Compact.

A related bill, SB 155, was also filed in the North Carolina Senate, introduced by Sen. Kevin Corbin (and two others) on Feb. 25, 2025.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Hugh Blackwell (Republican-86th District), Rep. Larry W. Potts (Republican-81st District), and Rep. Timothy Reeder, MD (Republican-9th District), along with one other sponsor.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Potts, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2017 to represent the state’s 81st House district, replacing previous state representative Rayne Brown.

Under North Carolina law, bills must receive three readings in each chamber. According to the UNC School of Government, once a bill “passes its constitutionally required second reading and moves to its constitutionally required third reading,” additional debate can occur, but the final stage is often treated as a formality. Unless a legislator requests a roll-call, the third reading may be approved by voice vote or unanimous consent without a separate recorded tally.