HB 504 allocates $474,680 over the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to fund a pilot program in Mecklenburg County towns (Matthews, Pineville, and Mint Hill), directly affecting these localities and residents experiencing mental health crises. The bill provides funds to hire full-time mental health professionals who will work alongside police officers during mental health-related emergency calls, integrating clinical support into law enforcement responses. Each participating town receives specific annual allocations ($131,280 for Matthews, $171,700 each for Pineville and Mint Hill) to support this co-responder model. The program aims to improve outcomes for individuals in mental health distress by pairing law enforcement with mental health professionals during crisis calls. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025.
HB 55 appropriates $250,000 annually from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Autism Society of North Carolina's IGNITE Program. The funds will support activities and education groups designed to help young adults with autism develop independence and social skills during their transition to adulthood. This recurring funding applies to the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and becomes effective July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects the Autism Society of North Carolina and the young adults with autism it serves through the IGNITE Program.
SB 500 appropriates $14 million in one-time state funds for Pamlico County to build a new facility housing the County's Department of Health and Social Services. This replaces a former building abandoned due to moisture and mold issues, using county-owned property. The funding covers engineering and construction costs, with the bill taking effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects Pamlico County residents who access health and social services through this office.
HB 555, "Medicaid Telehealth Services," 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 who offer services exclusively through telemedicine are not required to maintain a physical presence in the state to be eligible for Medicaid enrollment. Similarly, medical provider groups that exclusively offer telemedicine services will not need an in-state service address to be eligible for the state's Medicaid program. This bill directly affects telehealth providers and medical groups by removing location-based requirements for participating in Medicaid.
SB 661 directs North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to study health issues affecting military women, particularly during pregnancy and postpartum. The study will examine coordinating maternity care between military and civilian facilities, improving access to housing and job resources, addressing mental health risks, expanding childbirth support services, and reducing racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. DHHS must consult with military veterans affairs and gather input from currently or formerly serving military mothers. The bill appropriates $100,000 for this study and requires a final report to legislative committees by April 2026. This bill does not enact new programs but mandates a review to inform future policy.
HB 252, the Steele Creek Investment and Improvement Act, allocates $1.25 million in one-time state funds for community projects in Mecklenburg County’s Steele Creek area. It directs $250,000 to Steele Creek Community Place, Inc. for wellness programs focused on economic opportunity, health, and mental health; $500,000 to Steele Creek Fire and Rescue for equipment and facilities; and $500,000 to the NC Department of Transportation for a traffic study on Shopton Road West. The bill directly supports Steele Creek residents - particularly those in unincorporated areas lacking municipal services - and local nonprofits. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, with no policy changes beyond funding allocations.
SB 642, the SAVE Students Act, requires all North Carolina public school students in grades 6-12 to receive two hours annually of evidence-based training on suicide/violence prevention and social inclusion. The training, approved by the Department of Public Instruction, covers identifying warning signs, accessing mental health resources, and fostering peer connections. School staff with regular student contact must also complete one hour of annual suicide/violence prevention training. Schools may use assemblies, digital tools, or other methods for delivery, and parents can opt students out. The bill also mandates school mental health plans and allows student-led suicide prevention clubs.
HB 744 establishes a three-year fertility preservation pilot program (2025-2032) using $2.25 million annually to help cancer patients who face financial barriers to fertility treatments. It directly affects individuals diagnosed with cancer or undergoing cancer treatment who are uninsured, have limited insurance coverage for fertility services, or would pay over $1,000 out-of-pocket, including those with household incomes below 300% of the federal poverty level. The program covers up to $12,000 for egg preservation/storage (women), $1,500 for sperm preservation (men), and $26,000 for IVF/IUI procedures, administered by three designated North Carolina medical centers. Grantees must report annually on services provided and program effectiveness, with funds expiring June 30, 2032.
HB 760 requires tattoo artists in North Carolina to complete annual bloodborne pathogen training compliant with OSHA standards (29 C.F.R. § 1910.1030) to obtain or renew their state tattooing permits. This applies directly to all tattoo artists seeking permits from the Department of Health and Human Services, excluding licensed physicians and their supervised staff who perform tattooing as part of medical practice. The bill mandates that permit applications (both new and renewal) must include proof of this training, which the Department will verify before issuing or renewing permits. The requirement becomes effective October 1, 2025, for all permit applications received on or after that date.
HB 684 establishes North Carolina's first formal environmental justice framework to address disproportionate health and environmental risks faced by BIPOC, low-income, and marginalized communities. The bill defines key terms like "communities of color" (40%+ nonwhite residents or 10% higher than county/state) and "disproportionate impact" to guide state agencies. It requires all state agencies to identify and reduce environmental health disparities by considering environmental justice in decision-making, ensuring equitable distribution of benefits like clean air, green spaces, and renewable energy. The law aims to create consistent standards for addressing pollution burdens and health inequities across North Carolina.
