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.
HB 463 establishes a supplemental insurance plan for North Carolina first responders diagnosed with specific mental health conditions (like anxiety, depression, or PTSD) directly resulting from their job. It provides three key benefits: up to $5,000 annually for out-of-pocket mental health costs, 75% of salary or $5,000 monthly (max 12 weeks/year) for leave due to treatment, and disability benefits (75% salary or $5,000/month, max 36 months) if unable to work. Eligibility requires a job-related diagnosis, current employment as a defined first responder (including police, firefighters, EMTs, and dispatchers), and exclusion from workers' compensation benefits. The plan aims to support recovery and return to duty while limiting benefits to cover gaps not met by other sources.
SB 85 requires body piercing establishments (excluding medical professionals like doctors performing piercings as part of their practice) to obtain annual permits from the state health department. To get a permit, businesses must pass health department inspections covering sanitation of premises, equipment, and procedures. The Commission for Public Health will create specific rules for permit requirements, including hygiene standards, which will determine the permit process. The bill takes effect once these rules are adopted, but no rules exist yet as the bill is still in early legislative stages.
HB 974 requires North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to study how hospice care facilities handle complaints from patients and families. The study will analyze complaint data, engage hospice administrators and care associations, and identify common issues and best practices for improving complaint procedures, investigations, communication, and family involvement. DHHS must submit findings and recommendations to legislative committees by April 2026, focusing on actionable steps for hospice facilities to enhance accountability. This bill does not change current laws but mandates a review to inform future policy.
SB 323 establishes a $9.6 million annual grant program (2025-2027) to provide free condoms and lubricants to students in North Carolina public high schools, community colleges, and UNC system institutions. It directly affects these educational settings by requiring grant recipients to offer supplies in designated campus locations without parental permission, while prioritizing student privacy and collaboration with health organizations. Key mechanisms include mandatory Student Health Advisory Committees, annual reporting on usage and health savings, and rules ensuring grants supplement rather than replace existing funding. The program aims to reduce STI-related healthcare costs and support student retention through preventive health access.
HB 710 establishes a three-year pilot program to fund mental health crisis units in North Carolina public schools. It allocates $2 million total (up to $250,000 annually per district) to select up to eight school districts starting in 2025-2026, prioritizing those with high student mental health needs or trauma history. Each participating district must staff units with at least a school nurse, social worker, and licensed counselor to provide crisis intervention during school hours and rotate across schools. The program requires annual reports on participating districts and student mental health impacts, ending June 30, 2028.
SB 91 allows qualified emergency facilities (like hospitals, police stations, and fire departments) to install secure "newborn safety devices" where parents can safely leave infants under 30 days old without legal consequences. The bill requires these devices to be temperature-controlled, equipped with dual alarms, inspected weekly, and located visibly on the facility exterior. Facilities must cover installation costs, develop emergency response plans, and undergo annual inspections by the Department of Health and Human Services. This law directly affects parents seeking to surrender infants safely and the 24-hour emergency facilities that install these devices, effective October 1, 2025.
HB 276 expands the definition of "killed in the line of duty" for firefighters to include deaths caused by specific cancers that previously qualified them for benefits under North Carolina's Firefighters' Cancer Insurance Program. The bill adds seven specific cancers (like mesothelioma and testicular cancer) to the list and includes any cancer diagnosis that already provided benefits under the existing program. It also formally links the Firefighters' Health Benefits Pilot Program to the Cancer Insurance Program, ensuring consistent coverage, and appropriates $2 million annually for related death benefits starting July 1, 2025. This change directly affects firefighters diagnosed with covered cancers and their families, who will now qualify for death benefits under the Public Safety Employees' Death Benefits Act.
SB 384 requires North Carolina's Commission for Public Health to establish safe limits for specific toxic chemicals in drinking water by October 2025. It targets chemicals like PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, hexavalent chromium, and 1,4-Dioxane - known or suspected carcinogens - mandating limits based on scientific evidence and ensuring they do not exceed federal EPA standards. The law also requires annual reviews of new research to update these limits as needed. This directly affects all North Carolina residents who rely on public water systems, with special consideration for children, infants, and pregnant people.
HB 933 increases Medicaid rates to ensure direct care workers for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities earn at least $18 per hour, affecting home/community providers, group homes, and waiver programs like NC Innovations. It adds 1,000 slots to the NC Innovations waiver program (with $36 million in annual state funding) and requires a 10-year plan to address unmet service needs. The bill also removes income and resource limits for Medicaid eligibility under the Health Coverage for Workers with Disabilities program. These changes take effect July 1, 2025, with $183 million in annual state funding supporting the wage increases and $36 million for new waiver slots.
