Rep. Greenfield files bill in North Carolina House on tattooist training requirements

A new bill filed by State Rep. Julia Greenfield seeks to regulate tattooing by mandating training and permit requirements to ensure public health and safety, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 760 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Bloodborne Pathogen Training for Tattooists.’

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

In essence, this bill mandates that all tattooists in North Carolina undergo annual bloodborne pathogen training, as per the Occupational Safety and Health Association standard, to obtain or renew a tattooing permit. Tattooing without a permit from the Department of Health and Human Services is prohibited unless performed by licensed physicians or their qualified assistants within their professional practice. The Department must verify completion of the training and inspect tattooing practices before issuing permits, which are valid for one year. Violations can result in permit denial, suspension, or revocation. The act is effective Oct. 1, 2025, and applies to permit applications received from that date.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Terry M. Brown Jr. proposed the most bills (28) during the 2025 regular session.

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.

Greenfield graduated from Appalachian State University in 1982 with a BA.

Greenfield, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 100th House district, replacing previous state representative John Autry.