Healthcare

in committee · North Carolina · House May 4, 2026

HB 1175: Affordability in Healthcare Act.

This North Carolina legislation aims to reduce healthcare expenses and boost competition by adding a low-cost plan option to the state's insurance marketplace. It establishes a purchasing consortium for public entities to negotiate better rates and allocates funds for chronic disease prevention initiatives. The bill also removes regulatory barriers for rehabilitation facilities and limits hospital consolidation to maintain market diversity. These provisions impact residents seeking coverage, public employers, healthcare providers, and hospital systems within the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates funds for chronic disease prevention and establishes a purchasing consortium to reduce healthcare costs, aligning with fiscal management and budget efficiency.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill reduces costs, expands coverage via low-cost plans, funds prevention, and protects market diversity.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Insurance Long-Term Care Prescription Drugs

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passed · North Carolina · House May 7, 2025

HB 906: Reagan's Law.

This bill, titled Reagan's Law, aims to improve access to prosthetic and orthotic devices for North Carolinians with limb loss or limb difference by requiring most health benefit plans to cover these devices and related care. Key provisions mandate that plans cover all materials, instruction, and repairs for prosthetics and orthotics, allow for multiple devices based on medical needs, and prohibit denying claims for these devices that would otherwise be covered for non-disabled individuals seeking similar medical treatment. The legislation also requires insurers to provide coverage for device replacements when medically necessary due to changes in the insured's condition or device damage, without limiting coverage based on the device's age or useful lifetime. Additionally, the bill repeals state requirements for health plans to cover emergency care that duplicates federal law, aligning state regulations with federal standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurance coverage for prosthetics and orthotics, expanding access to essential medical devices and improving patient care for those with limb differences.95% confidence

Track

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 666: 2025 Water Safety Act.

SB 666 creates a $56 million PFAS Mitigation Fund to help local water and wastewater systems address PFAS contamination through grants for testing, treatment upgrades, and emergency response. It sets strict drinking water limits (e.g., 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS) and requires the state to adopt science-based PFAS discharge limits for industries by October 2025, including source reduction plans and pretreatment technology. The bill also allocates $14 million for research on PFAS detection, health impacts, and removal technologies through UNC’s Collaboratory. These provisions directly affect public water systems, industrial dischargers, and communities facing PFAS contamination in water sources.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $56M PFAS Mitigation Fund and $14M for research via state appropriations, directly funding environmental infrastructure and public health programs.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates $56M PFAS fund, sets strict drinking water limits (4 ppt), mandates science-based industrial discharge limits, and requires source reduction plans for environmental protection.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAddresses PFAS contamination in drinking water - a public health risk - via $56M fund for testing, treatment, and research to protect community health.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 27, 2025

HB 534: Sexual Assault Nurse Programs/Funds.

HB 534 appropriates $700,000 from North Carolina's General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to establish sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) training programs at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Wake Technical Community College. Each college receives $350,000 to hire a full-time faculty member ($105,000), a clinical coordinator ($105,000), purchase equipment/supplies ($45,000), and cover program development and accreditation costs ($95,000). The bill directly affects these two community colleges and future healthcare professionals seeking SANE certification. It creates a concrete funding mechanism to expand training capacity for nurses specializing in sexual assault victim care.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $700,000 from General Fund for SANE training programs, directly funding public health services through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds SANE training to improve evidence collection in sexual assault cases, directly enhancing criminal justice system effectiveness for sex offenses.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $700,000 to fund SANE training programs at community colleges, directly supporting higher education initiatives and professional education within the specified topic area.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $700k for SANE training programs at community colleges, directly funding healthcare services for sexual assault victims through specialized nurse examiner programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Violent Crime Higher Education Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 807: Strong Public Schools for a Strong NC.

HB 807 raises teacher salaries for the 2025-2026 school year with new pay scales based on experience and adds supplements for certified teachers, school nurses, counselors, and specialists. It allocates $89.4 million annually and $109.2 million as a one-time fund to provide weighted, per-child funding for children with disabilities based on the cost of services provided. The bill also mandates free breakfast and lunch for all public school students, funded through state appropriations tied to school food authority evaluations, and includes funding for a one-to-one device refresh in public schools.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $89.4M annually + $109.2M one-time for education programs via state appropriations, increasing public school funding and mandates free meals funded by state budget.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRaises teacher salaries with experience-based pay, allocates $89.4M annually/$109.2M one-time for disability services, mandates free school meals - directly advancing funding and access for K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds school nurses, counselors (mental health), and nutrition programs for student health services per bill's subjects and summary.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Teachers

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 17, 2025

HB 396: Nursing Fellows and Curriculum Support Funds/Winston-Salem State University.

HB 396 establishes a Nursing Fellows Program at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) to provide forgivable loans to nursing students. The program targets WSSU students pursuing Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing Education degrees who commit to working as nurses or nursing instructors in North Carolina after graduation. Eligible students receive up to $5,000 per semester (or $2,500 per summer) to cover tuition, fees, and books, with loans forgiven upon meeting service requirements. Funds are managed through a dedicated Trust Fund, with specific allocations for administrative costs, mentoring, and program activities. This directly affects WSSU nursing students planning to work in North Carolina healthcare settings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides forgivable loans for nursing students at WSSU, increasing access to higher education funding through scholarships/financial aid.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds nursing education to increase workforce, improving healthcare access and provider availability in NC through forgivable loans for future nurses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 663: End Menstrual Poverty Act.

SB 663, the "End Menstrual Poverty Act," allocates $350,000 in one-time state funds to expand access to feminine hygiene products through North Carolina’s diaper banks and $1 million annually to fund a school-based grant program for feminine hygiene products. It directly affects low-income individuals and students who rely on diaper banks and school programs for essential hygiene items. The bill increases funding for existing distribution networks (diaper banks) and creates a recurring school grant program under state law. This provides concrete policy changes by boosting product availability in community and educational settings without altering eligibility or creating new requirements. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $350k one-time and $1M annually for hygiene products via diaper banks/schools, increasing state funding for essential public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $1M annually for school-based hygiene grants, directly supporting student access and attendance in K-12 settings per EDUCATION/STUDENTS subjects.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $350k one-time and $1M annual funding to expand access to feminine hygiene products through public health channels (diaper banks/schools), directly addressing a critical health access need for low-income populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

passed · North Carolina · House Jun 26, 2025

HB 590: Patient Safety/Medical Imaging/Radiation Therapy.

HB 590 establishes licensing requirements for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals in North Carolina, directly affecting radiographers, radiation therapists, sonographers, and others performing these procedures. The bill creates a new "Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Board of Examiners" to set education standards, administer licensing exams, and ensure practitioners are "educationally prepared and clinically competent." It requires all non-licensed practitioners (e.g., radiographers, radiation therapists) to hold a state license before performing procedures involving ionizing radiation or medical imaging, with limited exemptions for licensed physicians. The law aims to protect patients by mandating standardized training and oversight for these technical roles.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensing standards to ensure clinical competence of medical imaging professionals, directly enhancing patient safety and healthcare quality standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 817: Triad Regional Grants.

HB 817 appropriates $14.5 million in nonrecurring state funds for specific grants benefiting the Triad region (Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and High Point areas) during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill allocates funds to nine nonprofit organizations and local entities for targeted projects, including mobile medical clinics ($50,000), fire department equipment ($1.2 million), fertility assistance for low/middle-income families ($500,000), stadium improvements ($1.5 million), historic site repairs ($5.3 million), and gun violence prevention programs ($1.5 million). These grants directly support community services, economic development, and cultural events within the Triad region. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and does not create new laws or regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates $14.5M in state funds for regional grants, advancing budget allocations and public service funding per APPROPRIATIONS/BUDGETING subjects.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $50k for mobile medical clinics and $500k for fertility assistance, directly funding healthcare access and services in the Triad region.90% confidence

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 11, 2025

HB 78: Prohibit Law Enforcement Officers with ICE in Churches/Schools/Hospitals.

HB 78 prohibits North Carolina law enforcement agencies and officers from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration enforcement activities - such as arrests or warrant service - in places of religious worship (churches, synagogues, etc.), elementary/secondary schools, and hospitals. The bill makes any agreements with ICE that violate this prohibition void and could lead to suspension or loss of law enforcement certification for officers who ignore the ban. It explicitly states that state law enforcement may still enforce North Carolina’s laws as usual, but not for immigration enforcement in these protected locations. The bill applies to all current and future law enforcement agreements involving ICE.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits law enforcement from aiding ICE in religious, educational, and medical facilities, protecting civil rights and reducing over-policing in sensitive spaces per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBars ICE enforcement in hospitals, preventing deterrence of healthcare access for immigrant patients, aligning with improved patient access indicators.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits NC law enforcement from aiding ICE in churches, schools, hospitals, limiting federal immigration enforcement cooperation to protect immigrant safety in sensitive locations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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