SB 630, the School Mental Health Support Act, creates two programs to improve student mental health services in North Carolina public schools. It appropriates $50 million for a grant program to help schools hire mental health support personnel (like counselors and psychologists), prioritizing schools serving students without insurance or with disabilities. Additionally, it allocates $50 million for a loan repayment program covering 20% of student debt annually for mental health workers (e.g., counselors, psychologists) who graduated from UNC schools and work in high-need areas. Both programs require annual reporting to legislative committees on funding distribution and outcomes. The bill directly affects public school units and mental health professionals in North Carolina.
HB 514 defines the scope of practice for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in North Carolina, including nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). The bill explicitly outlines the specific responsibilities for each role - such as CNMs managing reproductive health care, NPs diagnosing and treating illnesses, and CRNAs administering anesthesia - removing ambiguity in current law. It directly affects over 20,000 APRNs in North Carolina who currently face restrictions due to undefined practice parameters. The legislation aims to align North Carolina with 36 other states that have clarified APRN authority without compromising patient safety, as supported by research cited in the bill. This statutory definition is intended to improve healthcare access and reduce costs by enabling APRNs to practice to the full extent of their training.
SB 672 requires large medical facilities in North Carolina (including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and high-revenue practices) to adopt a Medical Debt Mitigation Policy (MDMP) that limits unfair debt collection tactics. The bill bans excessive interest charges, restricts selling medical debt without strict safeguards, and ensures patients eligible for financial assistance don’t pay more than their share - preventing double payments if debt is sold to collectors. It mandates clear, plain-language summaries of financial aid eligibility and requires facilities to calculate charges fairly based on household income. This directly affects patients with medical debt and large healthcare providers, aiming to reduce burdens from debt collection practices.
SB 673 protects licensed healthcare professionals (physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, and registered nurses) employed by hospitals in North Carolina. It prohibits hospitals and stakeholders from retaliating against these workers for reporting safety concerns, ethical violations, or breaches of hospital medical staff rules. The bill also bans non-compete clauses in hospital employment contracts and requires nondisclosure agreements to explicitly allow reporting of safety or legal violations. Violations of these provisions make the agreements unenforceable, with affected workers entitled to damages and legal fees.
SB 679, the Women's Care Act, requires North Carolina courts to defer imprisonment for 12 weeks after a pregnant person’s delivery (or end of pregnancy) if they pose no threat to the community. It directly affects pregnant female persons sentenced to prison, mandating courts to postpone incarceration while requiring them to maintain perinatal care, participate in community programs, and report monthly via phone or electronic means. The bill also allows probation supervision without fees during this period and requires prisons to report annual data on pregnant incarcerated women starting in 2026. The law applies to sentences issued on or after its effective date.
SB 699 would expand Medicaid coverage for personal care services to adults living in licensed adult care homes who earn more than the standard income limit for state assistance but stay below 180-200% of the federal poverty level. It specifically targets individuals who would otherwise qualify for state-funded care but exceed income thresholds, aiming to provide alternatives to nursing home placements. The bill requires North Carolina's health department to request federal approval from CMS within 90 days, ensuring new coverage is fully offset by cost savings and meets all legal requirements. Implementation would only occur if CMS approves the request and all goals in the bill are met.
SB 729 clarifies that North Carolina public schools may conduct routine health screenings (such as vision, hearing, dental, and developmental screenings) without parental consent. Schools must still notify parents at the start of each school year about which screenings will be offered and share the results with them. This applies to all public schools in North Carolina and affects parents of students in all grades. The bill specifically excludes these screenings from the parental consent requirement that applies to other health services, while maintaining notice requirements.
SB 727 adjusts North Carolina's Medicaid program by reducing the maximum number of regional contracts awarded to provider-led groups (PLEs) from up to 12 to up to 4 per contract cycle. It maintains four statewide contracts for commercial health plans to cover Medicaid recipients across the state. The bill requires the state to award contracts based on provider responses to requests for proposals, ensuring coverage continuity if fewer than four providers meet requirements. This directly affects Medicaid recipients, commercial health insurers, and provider-led groups managing regional or statewide coverage.
SB 752 allows North Carolina schools to use epinephrine nasal spray in addition to auto-injectors for treating severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). The bill requires schools to stock at least two emergency epinephrine products (including nasal spray) in secure but accessible locations, train staff to recognize symptoms and administer treatment, and develop emergency action plans. It applies to all public, charter, and regional schools, directly affecting students with severe allergies and school staff trained to respond to emergencies. The policy change takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.
SB 742 appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to provide a directed grant to The C.W. Williams Community Health Center, Inc., a nonprofit organization in Mecklenburg County. The funds are intended to support the completion of its full-service community health center facility during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This bill directly affects the C.W. Williams Community Health Center by providing targeted financial assistance for infrastructure completion. The grant is non-recurring and becomes effective July 1, 2025. The bill does not establish new policies or broadly impact other entities or services.
