Healthcare

signed · North Carolina · Senate Aug 11, 2026

SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026.

SB 445 automatically adopts federal temporary waivers or modifications issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under specific Social Security Act sections (1135 or 1812(f)) for North Carolina hospitals during declared emergencies. This means hospitals in disaster zones no longer need separate state approval to implement federal rule changes, directly affecting hospitals operating under such declarations. Key provisions include automatically waiving state hospital regulations to align with federal waivers and allowing temporary increases in bed capacity without additional state review. The bill streamlines emergency hospital operations by eliminating bureaucratic delays in applying federally authorized relief measures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAutomates federal waiver adoption for NC hospitals in disasters, removing state approval barriers to maintain healthcare access during emergencies, directly supporting hospital operations under crisis conditions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

failed · North Carolina · Senate Aug 6, 2026

SB 177: Continuing Budget Adjustments.

SB 177 expands North Carolina's Medicaid Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program (HASP) to include qualifying freestanding psychiatric hospitals, allowing them to receive increased reimbursements for services. The bill creates a new assessment (a fee) on these hospitals, calculated as a percentage of their hospital costs, to fund the program. To implement this, the state must seek federal approval from CMS to include psychiatric hospitals in HASP. This change directly affects all Medicare-certified, state-licensed freestanding psychiatric hospitals in North Carolina, requiring them to pay the new assessment while gaining eligibility for enhanced Medicaid payments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new hospital assessment tax to fund Medicaid expansion, increasing state budget allocation for healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid HASP to include psychiatric hospitals with increased reimbursements, directly enhancing mental health service access and funding under Medicaid.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · North Carolina · House Jul 1, 2026

HB 1083: Voluntary Portable Benefits Plan Act.

This bill creates a voluntary program allowing businesses in North Carolina to contribute to portable benefit accounts for their independent contractors. The plan enables hiring parties to fund benefits such as health insurance, retirement, and disability through a third-party administrator, which helps contractors maintain coverage when moving between jobs. To encourage participation, the legislation allows businesses to deduct contributions as business expenses and permits contractors to exclude those amounts from their taxable income. Additionally, the bill includes a $100,000 appropriation to fund public education about the program, which will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a voluntary program allowing businesses to contribute to portable benefit accounts for independent contractors, explicitly enabling funding for health insurance coverage.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands worker benefits by creating a voluntary program for portable benefits for independent contractors, strengthening their access to health, retirement, and disability coverage.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · North Carolina · House Jul 1, 2026

HB 1200: Tax-Free Family Essentials Act.

HB 1200, known as the Tax-Free Family Essentials Act, removes the state sales tax on specific items including diapers, baby wipes, over-the-counter children's medication, prenatal vitamins, and feminine hygiene products. The bill directly affects families purchasing these goods by exempting them from the tax, while also clarifying the legal definitions of these items to ensure consistent application. These tax exemptions will take effect on October 1, 2026, and apply to all sales occurring on or after that date.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill removes state sales tax on essential family items, providing direct tax relief and reducing the financial burden on households.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes sales tax on essential health and hygiene items, improving affordability and access for families.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed both · North Carolina · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 565: Limit Use of AI Medicaid/Commercial Insurance.

HB 565 ("Check Yes, Save Lives") allows North Carolina taxpayers to register as organ donors by checking a box on their state income tax return, starting with tax returns for 2026 and later. This directly affects all North Carolina taxpayers who file income tax returns, providing a simple, automatic way to enroll in the organ donation program during annual tax filing. The bill amends tax and organ donation statutes to add income tax return enrollment as a valid method for making an anatomical gift (under Section 130A-412.7(1a)), while keeping existing options like driver's license or wills. It requires coordination between the Department of Revenue and Motor Vehicles to update the Organ Donor Registry, ensuring the tax-based enrollment is properly recorded. The policy change streamlines donor registration without altering the existing organ donation process or eligibility.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSimplifies organ donor registration via tax forms, increasing donation rates and supporting public health initiatives in organ availability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · North Carolina · House Jun 22, 2026

HB 536: Physical Therapy Practice Act Modifications.

HB 536 modifies North Carolina's Physical Therapy Practice Act by establishing a new Board of Examiners to regulate the profession. The Board will consist of eight members (including a medical doctor, four physical therapists, two physical therapist assistants, and a public member) appointed to oversee licensing, discipline, and continuing education requirements for physical therapists and assistants. The bill clarifies that physical therapy practice excludes surgery, chiropractic, or medical diagnosis, and specifies that the Board may investigate complaints confidentially while making disciplinary decisions public. This legislation directly affects licensed physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and the public by setting standards for practice, licensure, and professional conduct in North Carolina.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes regulatory board to maintain physical therapy standards, ensuring quality care and professional oversight within healthcare services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · North Carolina · House May 12, 2026

HB 433: State Fiscal Recovery Fund/NC Pandemic Recovery Office Revisions.

House Bill 433 allows licensed registered nurses (RNs) to serve as school nurses in North Carolina public schools. The bill prohibits the State Board of Education from requiring a four-year degree for school nurse employment. It specifies that RNs with at least two years of experience in a hospital or health clinic can work as school nurses without needing additional certifications or licenses. These qualified registered nurses will be paid under the certified school nurse pay scale.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves degree barriers for RNs to serve as school nurses, expanding qualified staffing options without additional costs. Directly supports school staff accessibility in education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows qualified RNs to work as school nurses without degree requirements, expanding access to school health services per bill's explicit language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · North Carolina · House Sep 25, 2025

HB 693: Interstate Massage Compact.

HB 693 establishes the "Interstate Massage Compact" to create a multistate licensing pathway for massage therapists across participating states. It directly affects licensed massage therapists seeking to practice in multiple states and the public receiving those services. Key mechanisms include creating an Interstate Commission to administer the compact, enabling therapists to hold a single "multistate license" valid in all member states, requiring background checks and continuing competence, and allowing states to share disciplinary information and hold licensees accountable. The compact aims to improve public access to safe massage therapy while reducing regulatory burdens for therapists, particularly aiding military members and their spouses relocating between states.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables multistate practice for massage therapists, improving access to licensed health services under healthcare licensing framework.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · North Carolina · House Jul 7, 2025

HB 546: Medicaid Modernization.

HB 546 modernizes North Carolina's Medicaid program by requiring the state to develop team-based care coordination for individuals with alcohol and opioid use disorders, including screening, medication, and recovery support. The bill also allows telehealth-only providers to enroll in Medicaid without needing a physical office in the state and mandates a statewide specialty plan for children in foster care or receiving adoption assistance, to be implemented by December 2025. These changes directly affect Medicaid beneficiaries with substance use disorders, telehealth providers, and eligible children and families. The Department of Health and Human Services must report on the implementation of the substance use care and telehealth provisions by October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid coverage for substance use treatment via team-based care, enables telehealth provider enrollment, and mandates specialty health plans for foster children.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · North Carolina · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 77: School Contracted Health Services.

SB 77 allows parents of students with disabilities to choose their preferred nurse for school-based nursing services required by an Individualized Education Program (IEP), provided specific conditions are met. The bill requires schools to assign the parent's chosen nurse if that nurse previously provided care to the student, the nursing agency agrees to contract under standard terms, and the rate matches other contracted nurses. This directly affects families of students needing nursing services under IEPs and ensures schools honor parent preferences without altering their obligation to provide a free appropriate public education. The policy applies starting the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables parent choice in nursing services for IEP students, enhancing educational access and support for children with disabilities within school health services.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables parent choice in school nursing services for IEP students, improving access to continuity of care and patient-centered healthcare access within education settings.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare