GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 760
Short Title: Bloodborne Pathogen Training for Tattooists. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives von Haefen, Crawford, T. Brown, and Greenfield (Primary
Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 7, 2025
*H760 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ANNUAL BLOODBORNE PATHOGEN TRAINING 2
REQUIREMENT FOR TATT OOISTS. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. G.S. 130A-283 reads as rewritten: 5
"§ 130A-283. Tattooing regulated. 6
(a) Definition. – As used in this Part, the term "tattooing" means the inserting of 7
permanent markings or coloration, or the producing of scars, upon or under human skin through 8
puncturing by use of a needle or any other method. 9
(b) Prohibited Practice. Tattooing Permit Required; Exemptions. – No person shall 10
engage in tattooing without first obtaining a tattooing permit from the Department. Licensed 11
physicians, as well as physician assistants and nurse practitioners working under the supervision 12
of a licensed physician, who perform tattooing within the normal course of their professional 13
practice are exempt from the requirements of this Part. 14
(c) Application. Permit Application. – To Any person seeking to obtain a tattooing 15
permit, a person must permit shall apply to the Department. Department on forms prescribed by 16
the Department. Upon receipt of the application, the Department, acting through the local health 17
department, shall (i) verify that the applicant has completed the bloodborne pathogen training 18
required by subsection (c1) of this section and (ii) inspect the premises, instruments, utensils, 19
equipment, and procedures of the applicant to determine whether the applicant meets the 20
requirements for a tattooing permit set by the Commission. If the applicant meets these 21
requirements, the Department shall issue a permit to the applicant. A permit is valid for one year 22
and must be renewed annually by applying to the Department for a permit renewal. 23
(c1) Annual Bloodborne Pathogen Training. – Each applicant seeking an initial or renewal 24
tattooing permit under this section is required to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Department 25
that the applicant has completed annual training in compliance with the Occupational Safety and 26
Health Association's bloodborne pathogens standard set forth in 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1030. 27
(d) Violations. – The Department may deny an application for a an initial or renewal 28
tattooing permit if an applicant fails to demonstrate successful completion of the bloodborne 29
pathogen training required by subsection (c1) of this section or does not meet the requirements 30
set by the Commission for the permit. The Department may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew 31
a permit if it finds that tattooing is being performed in violation of this Part. In accordance with 32
G.S. 130A-24(a), Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, the Administrative Procedure Act, 33
governs appeals concerning the enforcement of this Part. 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 760-First Edition
(e) Limitation. – A permit issued pursuant to this Part does not authorize a person to 1
remove a tattoo from the body of a human being. Compliance with this Part is not a bar to 2
prosecution for a violation of G.S. 14-400." 3
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective October 1, 2025, and applies to tattooing 4
permit applications received by the Department of Health and Human Services on or after that 5
date. 6