North Carolina Rep. Lambeth’s interstate medical licensure compact bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill sponsored by State Rep. Donny Lambeth seeks to simplify medical licensure across states, aiming to improve healthcare access and physician license portability in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State House.

In the House, 48 Democrats and 69 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 17 Democrats and 29 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Lambeth filed the bill in the North Carolina House on Feb. 5 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as HB 67, was passed on June 17 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: “Healthcare Workforce Reforms.”

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

In essence, the bill aims to establish the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to simplify the process of medical licensure across member states, enhancing healthcare access and physician license portability. It maintains the existing medical practice acts of states while providing a streamlined pathway for physicians to gain licensure in multiple jurisdictions, ensuring they remain under the jurisdiction of the state where the patient is located. The compact allows member states to participate in joint investigations and take disciplinary actions. It creates an Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission for administration, rulemaking, and addressing disputes. The bill also outlines procedures for license application, renewal, fees, information sharing, and resolving interstate disputes. It becomes effective Oct. 1, 2025.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Donny Lambeth (Republican-75th 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.

Lambeth graduated from High Point University in 1972 with a BA.

Lambeth, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2013 to represent the state’s 75th House district, replacing previous state representative Bill McGee.

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.