S257 - 2026 Appropriations Act. (SL 2026-41)

• Reenacts land surveyor intern provisions that were previously repealed.
• Allows for the award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs in situations where the North Carolina State Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (Board) prevails in actions to enforce certain violations that were committed with fraudulent intent.
• Allows the Board to expend its funds to support nonprofit engineering and surveying professional societies, as well as nonprofit foundations dedicated to advancing the engineering and surveying professions, for the purpose of encouraging licensure and providing continuing education to licensees.
• Require that a roster showing the names and places of business and of residence of all licensed professional engineers and all licensed professional land surveyors be published on the Board's website.
• Eliminates the requirement for three character references, including one professional engineer, for licensure as an engineer intern or land surveyor intern.
• Removes outdated options to satisfy the professional land surveyor licensing requirements.
• Removes the procedures for reexamination or reapplication for a candidate that fails an examination required for licensure as a professional engineer or professional land surveyor.
• Allows the Board to enact a multiyear license renewal cycle.
• Makes various changes to the expiration and renewal of licenses.
• Provides that any person who unlawfully practices engineering or land surveying or unlawfully uses certain titles or terms is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
• Clarifies that an unlicensed person must not represent themselves as a professional engineer or a professional land surveyor or hold out to the public any engineering or land surveying expertise with the intent of practicing engineering or land surveying.
• Clarifies that Chapter 89C does not prevent an individual from testifying as a lay or expert witness at a deposition or trial as well as the preparation and drafting of an expert report in preparation for testifying as an expert at a deposition or trial.
• Repeals an outdated reporting requirement on programs of licensure by discipline.

The reenactment of land surveyor intern provisions that were previously repealed became effective retroactively to July 1, 2022, and applies to certificates or licenses issued on or after that date. The remainder of this section becomes effective October 1, 2026.