HB 636 establishes new procedures for public school units to select and review library media and materials, affecting students, parents, and school personnel. The bill requires schools to adopt policies that ensure materials are age-appropriate and do not contain content defined as "harmful to minors," which includes depictions of sexual activity or pervasively vulgar content. It mandates a review process involving a community library advisory committee, public posting of recommended materials, and a mechanism for public objections. Additionally, the bill requires the creation of a public database for rejected materials and allows parents, guardians, students, or residents to pursue private legal action against schools violating these provisions. Principals are also required to review all media available at school book fairs for compliance.
House Bill 610 directs the Department of Public Instruction to conduct a study on the feasibility of requiring each local school district to maintain at least one school operating on a year-round calendar for grades kindergarten through 12. The study will examine administrative and operational costs, transportation challenges, and potential barriers to establishing these schools. It will also assess anticipated student enrollment if year-round options were more accessible. The Department can work with a third-party for this research and must report its findings and any recommendations to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by January 15, 2027.
House Bill 432 aims to provide various forms of property tax relief to North Carolina homeowners. It increases the property tax exclusion amounts for qualifying elderly or disabled homeowners and expands the exclusion for disabled veterans, allowing more of their home's value to be exempt from taxation. The bill also establishes a new "Homeowner Advantage Property Tax Relief Program" designed to cap the annual increase in a permanent residence's taxable value, based on inflation and a cumulative limit. To qualify for this program, homeowners must have occupied their residence for at least two years. Additionally, the bill creates an "Elderly Property Tax Homestead Circuit Breaker Program" and exemptions from the forced sale of a homestead.
House Bill 592, known as the Toxic-Free Medical Devices Act of 2025, aims to prohibit the use of a chemical called DEHP in certain medical devices within North Carolina. Specifically, it bans the manufacturing, selling, and distributing of intravenous solution containers and intravenous tubing that are intentionally made with DEHP. The prohibition for IV solution containers takes effect on January 1, 2030, and for IV tubing on January 1, 2035. The bill also prevents replacing DEHP with other similar chemicals in these devices and sets limits for unintentionally present DEHP, while exempting certain blood-related products. Violations of these provisions could lead to administrative penalties.
This bill designates "The Andy Griffith Show" as the official television show of the State of North Carolina. This symbolic act recognizes the cultural impact of the show and its connection to the state.
HB 734, titled "Modernize Debt Settlement Prohibition," aims to prohibit debt settlement and debt adjusting services in North Carolina. The bill reclassifies these activities as unfair trade practices and clarifies their definitions. It makes engaging in debt adjusting or debt settlement a Class 2 misdemeanor and expands civil remedies for debtors. The bill grants superior courts the authority to enjoin such practices and assess civil penalties. However, it exempts certain individuals and transactions, such as a creditor acting without cost to the debtor or an attorney acting within an attorney-client relationship.
SB 369 aims to ensure that certain telehealth providers can enroll as Medicaid providers in North Carolina. The bill specifies that individual health care providers, licensed by the state and offering services exclusively through telemedicine, do not need a physical presence in the state to be eligible for Medicaid enrollment. Additionally, medical provider groups that exclusively offer telemedicine services will not be required to have an in-state service address to enroll as Medicaid provider groups. This measure directly affects telehealth providers and Medicaid recipients by clarifying requirements for remote healthcare services.
This bill establishes the Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact, a multi-state agreement designed to enhance the ability of PAs to practice in multiple participating states. It allows PAs who hold a qualifying license and meet national standards, including specific education and certification requirements, to obtain a "Compact Privilege" to practice in other member states. The Compact aims to improve access to medical services and ease licensing burdens for PAs, including military spouses. It also maintains patient safety through shared regulatory oversight and a central data system for tracking licenses and disciplinary actions across participating states.
This bill proposes to repeal North Carolina's Certificate of Need (CON) laws, which currently require healthcare providers to obtain state approval for certain projects. These projects include building new facilities, expanding existing services, or acquiring major medical equipment. By eliminating these requirements, the bill would remove a regulatory step for various healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and diagnostic centers, looking to establish or grow their operations. The bill achieves this by amending several state statutes to remove references to the Certificate of Need process.
Senate Bill 527 modifies laws applicable to Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs), which oversee behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability services. It grants LME/MCOs greater flexibility in managing their personnel by largely exempting their employees from most provisions of the State Human Resources Act. Specifically, the bill removes salary caps tied to county plans and allows LME/MCOs to establish their own personnel systems, subject to approval by the State Human Resources Commission and county commissioners. Additionally, it provides flexibility for LME/MCOs operating certain tailored health plans regarding contracting with specific licensed entities after an initial period. These changes primarily affect LME/MCO employees and their operational autonomy.
Senate Resolution 372 is a procedural bill that addresses the confirmation of McKinley Wooten, Jr. as the Secretary of the Department of Revenue. It outlines that the Senate will consider whether to approve the Governor's appointment for this principal State department head position.
This Senate Resolution addresses the appointment of Lee Lilley as Secretary of the Department of Commerce. It directs the Senate to consider whether to confirm Lee Lilley for this role, as required by the state constitution for gubernatorial nominations.
