Healthcare

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 700: The Patients' Restoration of Rights Act.

HB 700, the Patients' Restoration of Rights Act, allows patients or their representatives to file medical malpractice or wrongful death lawsuits for injuries or deaths occurring after March 1, 2020, if those claims would otherwise be barred by statute due to missed deadlines. It specifically excludes cases where the death or injury was directly caused by contracting COVID-19. The bill temporarily revives time-barred claims from March 2020 onward for one year after the law takes effect, applying to cases under North Carolina’s civil procedures for medical malpractice (Chapter 90, Article 1B) or wrongful death (Chapter 28A). This provides a limited window for eligible claimants to pursue legal action without needing to prove new harm. The law expires one year after enactment, with no permanent change to standard statute of limitations rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestores patient legal recourse for medical malpractice claims, directly protecting patient rights within healthcare services as explicitly stated in the bill's title and summary.95% confidence

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died · North Carolina · House Mar 6, 2025

HB 49: Filial Debt Fairness Act.

HB 49, the Filial Debt Fairness Act, clarifies North Carolina's filial responsibility law by explicitly stating that adult children are **not liable for debts their parents incurred** (such as medical bills or loans). The bill amends Section 14-326.1 to clarify that while adult children may still face misdemeanor charges for failing to support a sick or unable-to-work parent (without reasonable cause), they cannot be held responsible for their parents' pre-existing debts. This directly affects adult children who might otherwise be sued for their parents' financial obligations. The law aims to prevent unintended liability for parents' debts while maintaining the existing requirement for children to support parents in need.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies adult children not liable for parents' medical bills, preventing debt collection on healthcare costs and protecting families from financial burden related to health services.95% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 20, 2025

SB 346: Good Samaritan Law/Immunity.

This North Carolina bill (SB 346) provides limited legal immunity for people who seek medical help during drug or alcohol overdoses. It protects individuals from minor charges (like possession of less than 1 gram of drugs or underage alcohol consumption) if they call 911 or assist others in calling for overdose emergencies, provided they act in good faith, provide their name, and weren’t seeking help during an active arrest. The immunity also extends to the overdose victim themselves and prevents probation/parole revocation for these covered offenses. The law applies to acts occurring on or after October 1, 2025, and does not affect evidence collection for other crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides immunity from minor drug/alcohol charges for seeking overdose help, reducing unnecessary criminalization and aligning with public health-focused criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides legal immunity for seeking medical help during overdoses, removing barriers to emergency care access and promoting public health intervention.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Probation & Parole Substance Abuse

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 609: Steele Creek Investment and Improvement Act.

SB 609 allocates $1.25 million in one-time state funds for Steele Creek community projects in Mecklenburg County, directly benefiting residents in this rapidly growing unincorporated area. The bill provides $250,000 to a nonprofit for community health initiatives (focusing on mobility, wellness, family support, and mental health), $500,000 to the Steele Creek Fire and Rescue Service for emergency equipment and facilities, and $500,000 to the state DOT for a traffic study on Shopton Road West. These funds aim to address infrastructure and service gaps as Steele Creek’s population has grown over 70% in 15 years. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, with all funding directed to specific projects for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.25M for community health, emergency services, and infrastructure - directly funding public services under state budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $250,000 to nonprofit for community health initiatives including mental health services, directly funding mental health programs.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates $500,000 to state DOT for Shopton Road West traffic study, directly funding transportation infrastructure analysis per bill summary and subjects list.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 635: Healthy Families and Workplaces/Paid Sick Leave.

This bill requires most North Carolina employers to provide earned paid sick leave to workers. Employees would earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, with small businesses (10 or fewer employees) limited to 32 hours annually and other employers to 56 hours. Workers could use this time for their own illness, family medical care, or safety-related needs like domestic violence or sexual assault recovery. The law applies to most private-sector employees but excludes volunteers and certain exempt workers, directly affecting over 1.6 million North Carolinians currently without access to paid sick days.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides paid sick leave for medical care, improving access to healthcare services and aligning with public health subjects.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid sick leave for most employees, expanding worker benefits and protections for health/safety needs per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Labor Standards Paid Leave

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passed · North Carolina · House May 7, 2025

HB 572: Veterans/Electroencephalogram Combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Pilot Program.

HB 572 authorizes the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to establish a statewide pilot program providing Electroencephalogram combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (eTMS) treatment. This program is for veterans, first responders, and their immediate family members experiencing conditions such as substance use disorders, mental illness, sleep disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and PTSD. The Department will select a provider to create a network for in-person and off-site care, aiming for statewide access. Participants in the program will also receive neurophysiological monitoring, counseling, wellness programming, and access to a peer-to-peer support network. The selected provider must collect and report treatment outcomes and expenditures to the Department and legislative committees by September 15, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes pilot program for eTMS mental health treatment access for veterans and first responders, directly expanding healthcare services under mental health and health services subjects.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes eTMS pilot program for veterans' mental health/PTSD treatment via Veterans Affairs department, directly expanding healthcare access for covered conditions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SB 509: Health Information Exchange Act Revisions.

SB 509 revises North Carolina's Statewide Health Information Exchange Act to require certain health care providers serving Medicaid and other state-funded health care programs to connect to the statewide health information exchange network (HIE Network). It overrides the previous voluntary nature of the HIE Network by mandating participation for covered entities providing state-funded care, aiming to improve care coordination and reduce costs through secure electronic sharing of patient data. The bill also adds new civil penalties for violations and introduces a state health data assessment fee. These changes directly affect health care providers, health plans, and facilities receiving state health care funds, with the goal of enhancing data sharing for quality improvement and cost management.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid providers to connect to HIE Network for improved care coordination and cost reduction, strengthening healthcare infrastructure and data sharing.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates secure electronic data sharing via HIE network, enhancing cybersecurity and data privacy protocols for healthcare IT systems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 561: The Working Hearts, Empowered Homes Act.

SB 561, "The Working Hearts, Empowered Homes Act," creates a coordinated system to streamline access to childcare, healthcare, nutrition assistance, and preventive care for working families in North Carolina. It establishes a statewide coordination system under the Department of Health and Human Services to consolidate applications and services, replacing fragmented programs. The bill funds two pilot programs: a $3 million regional hubs initiative (2025-2027) testing centralized access points, and a $7 million childcare innovation program targeting small businesses and rural centers through grants. Both pilots require evaluation reports by February 2028 to assess effectiveness before potential statewide expansion.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates coordinated healthcare access system under DHHS, funds $3M pilot for centralized services to improve patient access and streamline health/nutrition programs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care

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in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 6, 2025

HB 61: Assaults on First Responders.

HB 61 increases penalties for assaulting certain emergency personnel with a firearm in North Carolina. It reclassifies assaults against law enforcement officers, probation/parole officers, National Guard members, detention facility staff, emergency medical technicians, medical responders, firefighters, and law enforcement telecommunicators as a Class B1 felony (instead of Class D) when committed during their duties. The bill specifically targets firearm assaults, making them punishable by more severe prison sentences. This law takes effect December 1, 2025, for offenses occurring on or after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for assaulting first responders by reclassifying assaults as Class B1 felony, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects healthcare workers (EMTs, medical responders) by increasing penalties for firearm assaults against them during duties, directly strengthening healthcare workforce safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Probation & Parole

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 510: Menstrual Equity for All Act.

HB 510, the "Menstrual Equity for All Act," exempts feminine hygiene products (like tampons, menstrual cups, and sanitary napkins) from state sales tax starting July 1, 2025. It allocates $750,000 annually from 2025-2027 to fund a grant program through the Department of Public Instruction, providing these products to public school students in need. The bill directly affects public schools and students, particularly in low-income communities, by reducing financial barriers to accessing essential menstrual products. Key provisions include redefining "feminine hygiene products" for tax purposes and establishing a dedicated funding stream for school-based distribution.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts menstrual products from sales tax (reducing burden on low-income) and allocates $750k annually for school grants, directly providing tax relief and funding essential public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $750k annually for school grants providing menstrual products, reducing financial barriers and improving educational access for students in public schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts menstrual products from tax and funds school access, reducing financial barriers to essential health management for students in need.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax State Budget

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